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He now roamed desperately； and at random； through the town；
almost ready to believe that a spell was on him； like that by
which a wizard of his country had once kept three pursuers
wandering； a whole winter night； within twenty paces of the
cottage which they sought。 The streets lay before him； strange
and desolate； and the lights were extinguished in almost every
house。 Twice； however； little parties of men； among whom Robin
distinguished individuals in outlandish attire； came hurrying
along； but； though on both occasions； they paused to address him
such intercourse did not at all enlighten his perplexity。 They
did but utter a few words in some language of which Robin knew
nothing； and perceiving his inability to answer； bestowed a curse
upon him in plain English and hastened away。 Finally； the lad
determined to knock at the door of every mansion that might
appear worthy to be occupied by his kinsman； trusting that
perseverance would overcome the fatality that had hitherto
thwarted him。 Firm in this resolve； he was passing beneath the
walls of a church； which formed the corner of two streets； when；
as he turned into the shade of its steeple； he encountered a
bulky stranger muffled in a cloak。 The man was proceeding with
the speed of earnest business； but Robin planted himself full
before him； holding the oak cudgel with both hands across his
body as a bar to further passage
〃Halt； honest man； and answer me a question；〃 said he； very
resolutely。 〃Tell me； this instant； whereabouts is the dwelling
of my kinsman； Major Molineux！〃
〃Keep your tongue between your teeth； fool； and let me pass！〃
said a deep； gruff voice； which Robin partly remembered。 〃Let me
pass； or I'll strike you to the earth！〃
〃No； no； neighbor！〃 cried Robin； flourishing his cudgel； and then
thrusting its larger end close to the man's muffled face。 〃No；
no； I'm not the fool you take me for； nor do you pass till I have
an answer to my question。 Whereabouts is the dwelling of my
kinsman； Major Molineux？〃 The stranger； instead of attempting to
force his passage； stepped back into the moonlight； unmuffled his
face； and stared full into that of Robin。
〃Watch here an hour； and Major Molineux will pass by；〃 said he。
Robin gazed with dismay and astonishment on the unprecedented
physiognomy of the speaker。 The forehead with its double
prominence the broad hooked nose； the shaggy eyebrows； and fiery
eyes were those which he had noticed at the inn； but the man's
complexion had undergone a singular； or； more properly； a twofold
change。 One side of the face blazed an intense red； while the
other was black as midnight； the division line being in the broad
bridge of the nose； and a mouth which seemed to extend from ear
to ear was black or red； in contrast to the color of the cheek。
The effect was as if two individual devils； a fiend of fire and a
fiend of darkness； had united themselves to form this infernal
visage。 The stranger grinned in Robin's face； muffled his
party…colored features； and was out of sight in a moment。
〃Strange things we travellers see！〃 ejaculated Robin。
He seated himself； however； upon the steps of the church…door；
resolving to wait the appointed time for his kinsman。 A few
moments were consumed in philosophical speculations upon the
species of man who had just left him； but having settled this
point shrewdly； rationally； and satisfactorily； he was compelled
to look elsewhere for his amusement。 And first he threw his eyes
along the street。 It was of more respectable appearance than most
of those into which he had wandered； and the moon； creating； like
the imaginative power； a beautiful strangeness in familiar
objects； gave something of romance to a scene that might not have
possessed it in the light of day。 The irregular and often quaint
architecture of the houses； some of whose roofs were broken into
numerous little peaks； while others ascended； steep and narrow；
into a single point； and others again were square； the pure
snow…white of some of their complexions； the aged darkness of
others； and the thousand sparklings； reflected from bright
substances in the walls of many； these matters engaged Robin's
attention for a while； and then began to grow wearisome。 Next he
endeavored to define the forms of distant objects； starting away；
with almost ghostly indistinctness； just as his eye appeared to
grasp them； and finally he took a minute survey of an edifice
which stood on the opposite side of the street； directly in front
of the church…door； where he was stationed。 It was a large；
square mansion； distinguished from its neighbors by a balcony；
which rested on tall pillars； and by an elaborate Gothic window；
communicating therewith。
〃Perhaps this is the very house I have been seeking；〃 thought
Robin。
Then he strove to speed away the time； by listening to a murmur
which swept continually along the street； yet was scarcely
audible； except to an unaccustomed ear like his； it was a low；
dull； dreamy sound； compounded of many noises； each of which was
at too great a distance to be separately heard。 Robin marvelled
at this snore of a sleeping town； and marvelled more whenever its
continuity was broken by now and then a distant shout； apparently
loud where it originated。 But altogether it was a sleep…inspiring
sound； and； to shake off its drowsy influence； Robin arose； and
climbed a window…frame； that he might view the interior of the
church。 There the moonbeams came trembling in； and fell down upon
the deserted pews； and extended along the quiet aisles。 A fainter
yet more awful radiance was hovering around the pulpit； and one
solitary ray had dared to rest upon the open page of the great
Bible。 Had nature； in that deep hour； become a worshipper in the
house which man had builded？ Or was that heavenly light the
visible sanctity of the place；visible because no earthly and
impure feet were within the walls？ The scene made Robin's heart
shiver with a sensation of loneliness stronger than he had ever
felt in the remotest depths of his native woods； so he turned
away and sat down again before the door。 There were graves around
the church； and now an uneasy thought obtruded into Robin's
breast。 What if the object of his search； which had been so often
and so strangely thwarted； were all the time mouldering in his
shroud？ What if his kinsman should glide through yonder gate； and
nod and smile to him in dimly passing by？
〃Oh that any breathing thing were here with me！〃 said Robin。
Recalling his thoughts from this uncomfortable track； he sent
them over forest； hill； and stream； and attempted to imagine how
that evening of ambiguity and weariness had been spent by his
father's household。 He pictured them assembled at the door；
beneath the tree； the great old tree； which had been spared for
its huge twisted trunk and venerable shade； when a thousand leafy
brethren fell。 There； at the going down of the