\"Yousaytruly，\"repliedtheother。\"Iamastranger，andhavebeenawanderer，sorelyagainstmywill。Ihavemetwithgrievousmishapsbyseaandland，andhavebeenlongheldinbondsamongtheheathenfolk，tothesouthward；andamnowbroughthitherbythisIndian，toberedeemedoutofmycaptivity。Willitpleaseyou，therefore，totellmeofHesterPrynne’s—haveIhernamerightly？—ofthiswoman’soffences，andwhathasbroughthertoyonderscaffold？\"
\"Truly，friend；andmethinksitmustgladdenyourheart，afteryourtroublesandsojourninthewilderness，\"saidthetownsman，\"tofindyourself，atlength，inalandwhereiniquityissearchedout，andpunishedinthesightofrulersandpeople；ashereinourgodlyNewEngland。Yonderwoman，sir，youmustknow，wasthewifeofacertainlearnedman，Englishbybirth，butwhohadlongdweltinAmsterdam，whence，somegoodtimeagone，hewasmindedtocrossoverandcastinhislotwithusoftheMassachusetts。Tothispurpose，hesenthiswifebeforehim，remaininghimselftolookaftersomenecessaryaffairs。Marry，goodsir，insometwoyears，orless，thatthewomanhasbeenadwellerhereinBoston，notidingshavecomeofthislearnedgentleman，MasterPrynne；andhisyoungwife，lookyou，beinglefttoherownmisguidance—\"
\"Ah！—aha！—Iconceiveyou，\"saidthestranger，withabittersmile。
\"Solearnedamanasyouspeakofshouldhavelearnedthis，too，inhisbooks。Andwho，byyourfavour，sir，maybethefatherofyonderbabe—itissomethreeorfourmonthsold，Ishouldjudge—whichMistressPrynneisholdinginherarms？\"
\"Ofatruth，friend，thatmatterremainethariddle；andtheDanielwhoshallexpounditisyeta—wanting，\"answeredthetownsman。\"MadamHesterabsolutelyrefusethtospeak，andthemagistrateshavelaidtheirheadstogetherinvain。Peradventuretheguiltyonestandslookingonatthissadspectacle，unknownofman，andforgettingthatGodseeshim。\"