第6部分

請關閉瀏覽器的閱讀/暢讀/小說模式並且關閉廣告遮蔽過濾功能，避免出現內容無法顯示或者段落錯亂。

LET　LETTER〃；　and　it　should　be　bornecarefully　in　mind；　that　the　main　facts　of　that　story　are　authorisedand　authenticated　by　the　document　of　Mr　Surveyor　Pue。　The　originalpapers；　together　with　the　scarlet　letter　itself…　a　most　curious　relic…are　still　in　my　possession；　and　shall　be　freely　exhibited　towhomsoever；　induced　by　the　great　interest　of　the　narrative；　may　desirea　sight　of　them。　I　must　not　be　understood　as　affirming；　that；　in　thedressing　up　of　the　tale；　and　imagining　the　motives　and　modes　ofpassion　that　influenced　the　characters　who　figure　in　it；　I　haveinvariably　confined　myself　within　the　limits　of　the　old　Surveyor'shalf…a…dozen　sheets　of　foolscap。　On　the　contrary；　I　have　allowedmyself；　as　to　such　points；　nearly　or　altogether　as　much　license　asif　the　facts　had　been　entirely　of　my　own　invention。　What　I　contend　foris　the　authenticity　of　the　outline。 This　incident　recalled　my　mind；　in　some　degree；　to　its　old　track。There　seemed　to　be　here　the　groundwork　of　a　tale。　It　impressed　me　asif　the　ancient　Surveyor；　in　his　garb　of　a　hundred　years　gone　by；　andwearing　his　immortal　wig…　which　was　buried　with　him；　but　did　notperish　in　the　grave…　had　met　me　in　the　deserted　chamber　of　theCustom…House。　In　his　port　was　the　dignity　of　one　who　had　borne　hisMajesty's　mission；　and　who　was　therefore　illuminated　by　a　ray　ofthe　splendour　that　shone　so　dazzlingly　about　the　throne。　How　unlike；alas！　the　hang…dog　look　of　a　republican　official；　who；　as　theservant　of　the　people；　feels　himself　less　than　the　least；　and　belowthe　lowest　of　his　masters。　With　his　own　ghostly　hand；　the　obscurelyseen　but　majestic　figure　had　imparted　to　me　the　scarlet　symbol；　andthe　little　roll　of　explanatory　manuscript。　With　his　own　ghostly　voice；he　had　exhorted　me；　on　the　sacred　consideration　of　my　filial　dutyand　reverence