Frankenstein: The De Laceys' Story

Some time passed before I learned the story of my friends, and it moved me deeply.The old man’s name was De Lacey; he came from a good family in France, and not long before, they had lived in comfort in the great city of Paris.Their ruin was caused by Safie’s father, a rich Turkish merchant who lived in Paris.

For reasons no one could explain, the government threw him into prison and sentenced him to death, and all Paris felt it was unjust.Felix had been at the trial, and he was so angry at the decision that he made a solemn promise to set the prisoner free.At night he went to the barred window of the prisoner’s cell, and there he met Safie, who was allowed to visit her father.

The merchant saw that Felix loved his daughter, and he promised that the two could marry once he was safe.On the night before the execution, Felix helped him escape from Paris and led him and Safie all the way to Italy.But secretly the merchant hated the idea of his daughter marrying a Christian, and he only pretended to keep his promise.

Meanwhile, the French government discovered Felix’s plan and threw his blind father and his sister into prison.Felix hurried back to Paris and gave himself up, hoping to free them, but it did not help.After five months in prison, the whole family lost everything they owned and was sent out of France forever.

They found a poor home in the cottage in Germany where I discovered them.When the merchant heard that Felix had lost everything, he broke his promise, left Italy with Safie, and sent Felix a small sum of money as an insult.That was why Felix had been the saddest of the family: he could bear being poor, but not losing Safie.

Safie’s father ordered her to forget Felix and prepare to return to Turkey, but her mother had taught her to think for herself, and she refused to live shut away there.Taking some jewels and money, she secretly left Italy and set off for Germany with a servant.On the way the servant fell ill and died, but a kind woman helped Safie, alone and unable to speak the language, to reach the cottage of the man she loved.