,,visionaries ,,by ,,james ,,huneker ,j'aime les nuages 444 l bas4446 ,,baudelaire ,,new ,,york ,,charles ,,scribner',s ,,sons #aiaf ,,copyright1 #aije1 ,,by ,,charles ,,scribner',s ,,sons ,published ,october1 #aije4 ,a ,,mon ,,cher ,,ma,,tre ,,remy ,,de ,,gourmont ,,paris ,,contents ,,page ,i4 ,a ,,master ,,of ,,cobwebs #a ,,ii4 ,,the ,,eighth ,,deadly ,,sin #bc ,,iii4 ,,the ,,purse ,,of ,,aholibah #dd ,,iv4 ,,rebels ,,of ,,the ,,moon #fd ,v4 ,,the ,,spiral ,,road #hj ,,vi4 ,a ,,mock ,,sun #aaj ,,vii4 ,,antichrist #ace ,,viii4 ,,the ,,eternal ,,duel #ade ,,ix4 ,,the ,,enchanted ,,yodler #adi ,x4 ,,the ,,third ,,kingdom #afh ,,xi4 ,,the ,,haunted ,,harpsichord #ahh ,,xii4 ,,the ,,tragic ,,wall #bjc ,,xiii4 ,a ,,sentimental ,,rebellion #bbg ,,xiv4 ,,hall ,,of ,,the ,,missing ,,footsteps #bdi ,,xv4 ,,the ,,cursory ,,light #bff ,,xvi4 ,,an ,,iron ,,fan #bgh ,,xvii4 ,,the ,,woman ,,who ,,loved ,,chopin #bhi ,,xviii4 ,,the ,,tune ,,of ,,time #cji ,,xix4 ,,nada #cbf ,,xx4 ,,pan #ccb ,,visionaries ,i ,a ,,master ,,of ,,cobwebs ,i ,alixe ,van ,kuyp sat in the first-tier box presented to her husband with the accustomed heavy courtesy of the ,socit ,harmonique4 ,she went early to the hall that she might hear the entire music-making of the evening--,van ,kuyp's tone-poem1 ,sordello1 was on the programme between a ,weber overture and a ,beethoven symphony1 an unusual honour for a young ,american composer4 ,if she had gone late1 it would have seemed an affectation1 she reasoned4 ,her husband kept within doors2 she could tell him all4 ,and then1 was there not ,elvard ,rentgen8 ,she regretted that she had invited the ,parisian critic to her box4 ,it happened at a soire1 where he showed his savage profile among admiring musical lambs4 ,but he was never punctual at musical affairs4 ,this consoled ,alixe4 ,perhaps he would forget her impulsive1 foolish speech1--without him the music would fall upon unheeding ears1--he1 who interpreted art for the multitude1 the holder of the critical key that unlocked masterpieces4 ,she had felt the banality of her compliment as she uttered it1 and she knew the man who listened1 his glance incredulous1 his mouth smiling1 could not be deceived4 ,rentgen had been too many years in the candy shop to care for sweets4 ,she recalled her mean little blush as he twisted his pointed1 piebald beard with long1 fat fingers and leisurely traversed--his were the measuring eyes of an architect--her face1 her hair1 her neck1 and finally1 stared at her ears until they burned like a child's cheek in frost time4 ,alixe ,van ,kuyp was a large woman1 with a conscientious head and gray eyes4 ,as she waited1 she realized that it was one of her timid nights1 when colour came easily and temper ran at its lowest ebb4 ,she had begged ,van ,kuyp to cancel the habit of not listening to his own music except at rehearsal1 and1 annoyed by his stubbornness1 neglected to tell him of the other invitation4 ,the house was quite full when the music began4 ,uneasiness overtook her as the ,oberon slowly stole upon her consciousness4 ,she forgot ,rentgen2 a more disquieting problem presented itself4 ,richard's music--how would it sound in the company of the old masters1 those masters who were newer than ,wagner1 newer than ,strauss and the moderns6 ,she envisaged her husband--small1 slim1 with his bushy red hair1 big student's head--familiarly locking arms with ,weber and ,beethoven in the hall of fame4 ,no1 the picture did not convince her4 ,she was his severest censor4 ,not one of the professional critics could put their fingers on ,van ,kuyp's weak spots--his sore music1 as he jestingly called it--so surely as his wife4 ,she had studied2 she had even played the violin in public2 but she gave up her virtuosa ambitions for the man she had married during their student years in ,germany4 ,now the old doubts came to life as the chivalric tones of ,weber rose to her sharpened senses4 ,why couldn't ,richard-- ,the door in the anteroom opened1 her guest entered4 ,alixe was not dismayed4 ,she left her seat and1 closing the curtains1 greeted him4 ,the overture was ending as ,rentgen sat down beside her in the intimate little chamber1 lighted by a solitary electric bulb4 ,you are always thoughtful1 she murmured4 ,my dear lady1 mine is the honour4 ,and if you do not care1 can't we hear the music of your young man-- he smiled1 she thought1 acidly--here8 ,if ,i sit outside1 the world will say--we have to be careful of our unsmirched reputations--we poor critics and slave-drivers of the deaf4 ,she drew her hand gently away4 ,he had held it1 playfully tapping it as he slowly delivered himself in short sentences4 ,he was a ,dane1 but his ,french and ,english were without trace of accent2 certain intonations alone betrayed his ,scandinavian origin4 ,alixe could not refuse1 for the moment he finished speaking she heard a too familiar motive1 the ponderous phrase in the brass choir which ,van ,kuyp intended as the thematic label for his hero1 ,sordello4 ,ah1 there's your ,browning in tone for you1 whispered the critic4 ,she wished him miles away4 ,the draperies were now slightly parted and into the room filtered the grave1 languorous accents of the new tone-poem4 ,her eyes were fixed by ,rentgen's4 ,his expression changed2 with nostrils dilated like a hunter scenting prey1 his rather inert1 cold features became transfigured2 he was the man who listened1 the cruel judge who sentenced4 ,and she hoped1 also the kind friend who would consider the youth and inexperience of the culprit4 ,to the morbidly acute hearing of the woman1 the music had a ring of hollow sonority after the denser packed phrases of ,weber4 ,she had read ,sordello with her husband until she thought its meaning was as clear as high noon4 ,by the critic's advice the subject had been selected for musical treatment4 ,sordello's overweening spiritual pride--gate-vein of this heart's blood of ,lombardy--appealed to ,van ,kuyp4 ,the stress of souls1 the welter of cross-purposes which begirt the youthful dreamer1 his love for ,palma1 and his swift death when all the world thrust upon him its joys--here were motives1 indeed1 for any musician of lofty aim and sympathetic imagination4 ,alixe recalled the interminable arguments1 the snatches of poetry1 the hasty rushes to the keyboard2 a composer was in travail4 ,at the end of a year1 ,rentgen professed his satisfaction2 ,van ,kuyp stood on the highroad to fame4 ,of that there could be no doubt2 ,elvard ,rentgen would say so in print4 ,alixe had been reassured-- ,yet sitting now within the loop of her husband's music it suddenly became insipid1 futile1 and lacking in those enchantments for which she yearned4 ,her eyes dropped to the shapely hands meekly folded in her lap1 dropped because the bold1 interrogative expression on ,rentgen's face disturbed her4 ,she knew1 as any woman would have known1 that he admired her--but was he not ,richard's friend8 ,his glance enveloped her with piteous mockery4 ,the din was tremendous4 ,after passages of dark music1 in which the formless ugly reigned1 occurred the poetic duel between ,sordello and ,eglamor at ,palma's ,court of ,love4 ,but why all this stress and fury8 ,on the pianoforte the delicate episode sounded gratefully2 with the thick riotous orchestration came a disillusioning transformation4 ,there was noise without power1 there was sensuality that strove to imitate the tenderness of passion2 and she had fancied it a cloudy garden of love4 ,alixe raised an involuntary hand to her ear4 ,yes1 whispered the critic1 ,i warned him not to use his colours with a trowel4 ,his theme is not big enough to stand it4 ,he lifted thin eyebrows and to her overheated brain was an unexpected ,mephisto4 ,then the music whirled her away to ,italy2 the love scene of ,palma and ,sordello4 ,it should have been the apex of the work4 ,sounds too much like ,tschakowsky's ,francesca da ,rimini1 interrupted ,rentgen4 ,she was annoyed4 ,why didn't you tell ,van ,kuyp before he scored the work8 she demanded1 her long gray eyes beginning to blacken4 ,i did1 my dear lady1 ,i did4 ,but you know what musicians are-- ,he shrugged a conclusion with his narrow shoulders4 ,alixe coldly regarded him4 ,there was something new and dangerous in his attitude to her husband's music this evening4 ,her heart began to beat heavily4 ,what if her suspicions were but the advance guard of a painful truth6 ,what if this keen analyst of other men's ideas--she dared not finish the thought4 ,with a sluggish movement the music uncoiled itself like a huge boa about to engulf a tiny rabbit4 ,the simile forced itself against her volition2 all this monstrous preparation for a--rabbit6 ,in a concert-hall the poetic idea of the tone-poem was petty4 ,and the churning of the orchestra1 foaming hysteria of the strings1 bellowing of the brass--would they never cease6 ,such an insane chase after a rabbit6 ,yes1 she said the word to herself and found her lips carved into a hard smile1 which she saw reflected as in a trick mirror upon the face of ,elvard ,rentgen4 ,he understood4 ,of little avail ,sordello's frantic impotencies4 ,she saw through the rhetorical trickeries of the music1 weighed its cheap splendours1 realized the mediocrity of this second-rate poet turned symphonist4 ,image after image pressed upon her brain1 each more pessimistic1 more depressing than its predecessor4 ,alixe could have wept4 ,her companion placed his hand on her arm4 ,his fingers burned2 she moved1 but she felt his will controlling her mood4 ,with high relief she heard the music end4 ,there was conventional applause4 ,alixe restlessly peered into the auditorium4 ,again she saw opera-glasses turned toward the box4 ,our good friends1 she rather bitterly thought4 ,rentgen recognized her mental turmoil4 ,don't worry1 he said soothingly4 ,it will be all right to-morrow morning4 ,what ,i write will make the fortune of the composition4 ,he did not utter this vaingloriously1 but as a man who stated simple truth4 ,she gazed at him1 her timidity and nervousness returning in full tide4 ,i know ,i am overwrought4 ,i should be thankful4 ,but--but1 isn't it deception--,i mean1 will it be fair to conceal from ,richard the real condition of affairs8 ,he took her hand4 ,spoken like a true wife1 he gayly exclaimed4 ,my dear friend1 there will be no deception4 ,only encouragement1 a little encouragement4 ,as for deceiving a composer1 telling him that he may not be so wonderful as he thinks--that's impossible4 ,i know these star-shouldering souls1 these farmers of phantasms who exist in a world by themselves4 ,it would be a pity to let in the cold air of reality--anyhow ,van ,kuyp has some talent4 ,like lifting mists revealing the treacherous borders of a masked pool1 she felt this speech with its ironic innuendo4 ,she flushed1 her vanity irritated4 ,rentgen saw her eyes contract4 ,let us go when the symphony begins1 she begged1 ,i can't talk to any one in my present bad humour2 and to hear ,beethoven would drive me mad--now4 ,i don't wonder1 remarked her companion1 consolingly4 ,alixe winced4 ,the silver-cold fire of an undecided moon was abroad in the sky and rumours of spring filled the air4 ,they parted at a fiacre4 ,he told her he would call the next afternoon1 and she nodded an unforgiving head4 ,it was her turn to be disagreeable4 ,in his music room1 ,van ,kuyp read a volume of verse4 ,he did not hear his wife enter4 ,it pained her when she saw his serious face with its undistinguished features and dogged expression4 ,no genius this1 was her hasty verdict1 as she quickly went to him and put a hand on his head4 ,it was her hand now that was hot4 ,he raised eyes1 dolent with dreams4 ,well8 he queried4 ,you are a curious man6 she said wonderingly4 ,aren't you interested in the news about your symphonic poem8 ,he smiled the smile of the fatuous elect4 ,i imagine it went all right1 he languidly replied4 ,i heard it at rehearsal yesterday--,i suppose ,thelme took the tempi too slow6 ,she sighed and asked3-- ,what are you reading a night like this8 ,his expression became animated4 ,a volume of ,celtic poetry--,i've found a stunning idea for music4 ,what a tone-poem it will make6 ,here it is4 ,what colour1 what rhythms4 ,it is called ,the ,shadowy ,horses4 ',i hear the shadowy horses1 their long manes a-shake'-- ,who gave you the poem8 ,oh1 ,rentgen1 of course4 ,did you see him to-night8 ,you dear boy6 ,you must be tired to death4 ,better rest4 ,the critics will get you up early enough4 ,through interminable hours the mind of ,alixe revolved about a phrase she had picked up from ,elvard ,rentgen3 ,music is a trap for weak souls2 for the strong as the spinning of cobwebs4444 ,,ii ,it was pompous ,july and the ,van ,kuyps were still in ,paris4 ,they lived near ,passy--from her windows high in the air ,alixe caught the green at dawn as the sun lifted level rays4 ,richard was writing his new tone-poem1 which the ,socit ,harmonique accepted provisionally for the season following4 ,sordello had set the town agog because of the exhaustive articles by ,rentgen it brought in its wake4 ,he was a critic who wrote brilliantly of music in the terms of painting1 of plastic arts in the technical phraseology of music1 and by him the drama was discussed purely as literature4 ,this deliberate and delicate confusion of sthetics clouded the public mind4 ,he described ,sordello as a vast mural fresco1 a ,puvis de ,chavannes in tone1 a symphonic drama wherein agonized the shadowy schylean protagonist4 ,even sculpture was rifled for analogies1 and ,van ,kuyp to his bewilderment found himself called ,the ,rodin of ,music2 at other times1 ,richard ,strauss ,,ii1 or a ,tonal ,browning2 finally1 he was adjured to swerve not from the path he had so wonderfully hewn for himself in the virgin jungle of modern art1 and begged to resist the temptations of the music-drama4 ,rentgen loathed the music of ,wagner4 ,wagner had abused ,meyerbeer for doing what he did himself--writing operas stuffed with spectacular effects4 ,this man of the foot-lights destroyed all musical imagination with his puppet shows1 magic lanterns1 ,turkish bazaars1 where1 to the booming of mystic bells1 the listener was drugged into opium-fed visions4 ,under a tent1 as at a fair1 he assembled the mangled masterpieces of ,bach1 ,gluck1 ,beethoven1 ,weber1 ,schubert1 ,schumann1 ,chopin1 and to a gullible public sold the songs of these music-lords--songs that should swim on high like great swan-clouds cleaving skies blue and inaccessible4 ,and his music was operatic1 after all1 grand opera saccharine with commonplace melodies gorgeously attired--nothing more4 ,wagner1 declared the indignant critic1 was not original4 ,he popularized the noble ideas of the masters1 vulgarized and debased their dreams4 ,he never conceived a single new melody1 but substituted instead1 sadly mauled and pinched thematic fragments of ,liszt1 ,berlioz1 and ,beethoven1 combined with exaggerated fairy-tales1 clothed in showy tinsel and theatrical gauds1 the illusion being aided by panoramic scenery2 scenery that acted in company with toads1 dragons1 horses1 snakes1 crazy valkyrs1 mermaids1 half-mad humans1 gods1 demons1 dwarfs1 and giants4 ,what else is all this but old-fashioned ,italian opera with a new name8 ,what else but an inartistic mixture of ,scribe libretto and ,northern mythology8 ,music-drama--fudge6 ,making music that one can see is a death-blow to a lofty idealization of the art4 ,puzzled by the richness of ,rentgen's vocabulary1 by his want of logic1 ,alixe asked herself many times whether she was wrong and her husband right4 ,she wished to be loyal4 ,his devotion to his work1 his inspiration springing as it did from poetic sources1 counted for something4 ,why not8 ,all composers should read the poets4 ,it is a starting-point4 ,modern music leans heavily on drama and fiction4 ,richard ,strauss embroiders philosophical ideas1 so why should not ,richard ,van ,kuyp go to ,ireland1 to the one land where there is hope of a spiritual1 a poetic renascence8 ,ireland6 ,the very name evoked dreams6 ,when ,rentgen called at the ,van ,kuyps' it was near the close of a warm afternoon4 ,the composer would not stir1 despite the invitation of the critic or the pleading of his wife4 ,he knew that the angel wings of inspiration had been brushing his brow all the morning1 and such visits were too rare to be flouted4 ,he sat at his piano and in a composer's raucous varied voice1 imitated the imaginary timbres of orchestral instruments4 ,sent forth1 ,mrs4 ,van ,kuyp and ,rentgen slowly walked into the little ,parc of ,auteuil1 once the joy of the ,goncourts4 ,musicians are as selfish as the sea1 he asserted1 as they sat upon a bench of tepid iron4 ,she did not demur4 ,the weather had exhausted her patience2 she was young and fond of the open air--the woods made an irresistible picture this day4 ,the critic watched her changing1 dissatisfied face4 ,shall we ride8 he suddenly asked4 ,before she could shake a negative head1 he quickly uttered the words that had been hovering in her mind for hours4 ,or1 shall we go to the ,bois8 ,she started4 ,what an idea6 ,go to the ,bois without ,richard1 without my husband8 ,why not8 he inquired1 it's not far away4 ,send him a wire asking him to join us2 it will do him good after his labours4 ,come1 ,madame ,van ,kuyp1 come ,alixe1 my child4 ,he paused4 ,her eyes expanded4 ,i'll go1 she quietly announced--that is1 if you grant me a favour4 ,a hundred6 he triumphantly cried4 ,,iii ,to soothe her conscience1 which began to ring faint alarm-bells at sundown1 ,alixe sent several despatches to her husband1 and then tried a telephone2 but she was not successful4 ,her mood shifted chilly1 and they bored each other immeasurably on the long promenade vibrating with gypsy music and frivolous folk4 ,it was after seven o'clock as the sun slowly swam down the sky-line4 ,decidedly their little flight from the prison of stone was not offering rich recompense to ,alixe ,van ,kuyp and her elderly companion4 ,and now for the favour6 he demanded1 his eyes contentedly resting upon the graceful expanse of his guest's figure4 ,she moved restlessly3 ,my dear ,rentgen1 ,i am about to ask you a question1 only a plain question4 ,that is the favour4 ,he bowed incredulously4 ,i must know the truth about ,richard4 ,it is a serious matter1 this composing of his4 ,he neglects his pupils--most of them ,americans who come to ,paris to study with him4 ,yet with the reputation he has attained1 due to you entirely--she waved away an interruption--he refuses to write songs or piano music that will sell4 ,he is an incorrigible idealist and ,i confess ,i am discouraged4 ,what can be our future8 ,she drew the deep breath of one in peril2 this plain talk devoid of all sham mortified her exceedingly4 ,she was thankful that he did not attempt to play the rle of fatherly adviser4 ,his eyes were quite sincere when he answered her3-- ,what you say1 ,alixe-- the familiarity brought with it no condescending reverberations--has bothered me more than once4 ,i shall be just as frank on my side4 ,no1 your husband has but little talent2 original talent1 none4 ,he is mediocre--wait6 ,she started1 her cheeks red with the blood that fled her heart when she heard this doleful news4 ,wait6 ,there are qualifications4 ,in the first place1 what do you expect from an ,american8 ,but you always write so glowingly of our composers1 she interjected4 ,and1 he went on as if she had not spoken1 ,van ,kuyp is your typical countryman4 ,he has studied in ,germany4 ,he has muddled his brain with the music of a dozen different nations2 if he had had any individuality it would have been submerged4 ,his memory has killed his imagination4 ,he borrows his inspiration from the poets1 from ,liszt1 ,wagner1 ,berlioz1 ,richard ,strauss4 ,anyhow1 like all musicians of his country1 he is too painfully self-conscious of his nationality4 ,you1 alone1 are responsible for his present ambitions1 retorted the unhappy woman4 ,quite true1 my dear friend4 ,i acknowledge it4 ,and you say this to my face8 ,do you wish me to lie8 ,she did not reply4 ,after a grim pause she burst forth3-- ,oh1 why doesn't he compose an opera1 and make a popular name8 ,richard ,wagner ,number ,,ii6 ,there were implications of sarcasm in this which greatly displeased ,mrs4 ,van ,kuyp4 ,they strolled on slowly4 ,it was a melodious summer night2 mauve haze screened all but the exquisite large stars4 ,soothed despite rebellion1 ,alixe told herself sharply that in every duel with this man she was worsted4 ,he said things that scratched her nerves2 yet she forgave4 ,he had not the slightest attraction for her2 nevertheless1 when he spoke1 she listened1 when he wrote1 she read4 ,he ruled the husband through his music2 he ruled her through her husband4 ,and what did he expect8 ,they retraced their way4 ,a fantastic bridge spanning the brief marshland1 frozen by the moonlight1 appealed to them4 ,they crossed4 ,a coachman driving an open carriage hailed confidentially4 ,alixe entered and with a dexterous play of draperies usurped the back seat4 ,rentgen made no sign4 ,he had her in full view1 the moon streaking her disturbed features with its unflattering pencil4 ,they started bravely1 the horses running for home2 but the rapid gait soon subsided into a rhythmic trot4 ,rentgen spoke4 ,she hardly recognized his voice1 so gently monotonous were his phrases4 ,dear ,alixe4 ,it is a night for confessions4 ,you care for your husband1 you are wrapped up in his art work1 you are solicitous of his future1 of his fame4 ,it is admirable4 ,you are a model wife for an artist4 ,but tell me frankly1 doesn't it bore you to death8 ,doesn't all this talk of music1 themes1 orchestration1 of the public1 critics1 musicians1 conductors1 get on your nerves8 ,is it any consolation for you to know that ,van ,kuyp will be famous8 ,what is his fame or his failure to you8 ,where do you1 ,alixe ,van ,kuyp1 come in8 ,why must your charming woman's soul be sacrificed1 warped to this stunted tree of another's talent8 ,you are silent4 ,you say he is trying to make me deny ,richard6 ,you were never more mistaken4 ,i am interested in you both2 interested in you as a noble woman--stop6 ,i mean it4 ,and interested in ,richard--well--because he is my own creation4444 ,she watched him now with her heart in her eyes2 he frightened her more with these low1 purring words1 than if he declared open love4 ,he is my own handiwork4 ,i have created him4 ,i have fashioned his outlines1 have wound up the mechanism that moves him to compose4 ,did you ever read that terrifying thought of ,yeats1 the ,irish poet8 ,i've forgotten the story1 but remember the idea3 ',the beautiful arts were sent into the world to overthrow nations1 and1 finally1 life itself1 sowing everywhere unlimited desires1 like torches thrown into a burning city4' ,there--'like torches thrown into a burning city6' ,richard ,van ,kuyp is one of my burning torches4 ,in the spectacle of his impuissance ,i find relief from my own suffering4 ,the booming of the ,tzigane band was no longer heard--only the horses' muffled footfalls and the intermittent chromatic drone of hidden distant tram-cars4 ,she shivered and shaded her face with her fan4 ,there was something remote from humanity in his speech4 ,he continued with increasing vivacity3-- ,music is a burning torch4 ,and music1 like ideas1 can slay the brain4 ,wagner borrowed his harmonic fire from the torch of ,chopin-- ,she broke in3-- ,don't talk of ,chopin6 ,tell me more of ,van ,kuyp4 ,why do you call him yours8 ,her curiosity was become pain4 ,it mastered her prudence4 ,in far-away ,celtic legends there may be found a lovely belief that our thoughts are independent realities1 that they go about in the void seeking creatures to control4 ,they are as bodiless souls4 ,when they descend into a human being they possess his moods1 in very existence-- ,and ,richard6 she muttered4 ,his words swayed her like strange music2 the country through which they were passing was a blank2 she could see but two luminous points--the nocturnal eyes of ,elvard ,rentgen1 as he spun his cobwebs in the moonshine4 ,she did not fear him2 nothing could frighten her now4 ,one desire held her4 ,if it were unslaked1 she felt she would collapse4 ,it was to know the truth1 to be told everything6 ,he put restraining fingers on her ungloved hand2 they seemed like cold1 fat spiders4 ,yet she was only curious1 with a curiosity that murdered the spirit within her4 ,to transfuse these shadows1 my dear ,alixe1 has been one of my delights1 for ,i can project my futile desires into another's soul4 ,i am denied the gift of music-making1 so this is my revenge on nature for bungling its job4 ,if ,richard had genius1 my intervention would be superfluous4 ,he has none4 ,he is dull4 ,you must realize it4 ,but since he has known me1 has felt my influence1 has been subject to my volition1 my sorcery1 you may call it1-- his laugh was disagreeably conscious1--he has developed the shadow of a great man4 ,he will seem a great composer4 ,i shall make him think he is one4 ,i shall make the world believe it1 also4 ,it is my fashion of squaring a life ,i hate4 ,but if ,i chose to withdraw-- ,the road they entered was black and full of the buzzing shadows of hot night1 but she was oblivious to everything but his hallucinating voice3-- ,and if you withdraw8 ,her mouth echoed phrases without the complicity of her brain4 ,if ,i do--ah1 these cobweb spinners6 ,good-by to ,richard ,van ,kuyp and dreams of glory4 ,this note of harsh triumph snapped his weaving words4 ,i don't believe you or your boasts1 remarked ,alixe1 in her most conventionally amused manner4 ,you are trying to scare me1 and with this hypnotic joke about ,richard you have only hypnotized yourself4 ,i mean to tell ,mr4 ,van ,kuyp every bit of our conversation4 ,i'm not frightened by your vampire tales4 ,you critics are only shadows of composers4 ,yes1 but we make ordinary composers believe they are great1 he replied acridly4 ,i'll tell this to ,richard4 ,he won't believe you4 ,he shall--he won't believe you6 ,oh1 ,rentgen1 how can you invent such cruel things8 ,are you always so malicious8 ,what do you mean8 ,come--what do you expect8 ,she closed her eyes1 anticipating an avowal4 ,why should a man seek to destroy her faith in her husband1 in love itself1 if not for some selfish purpose of his own8 ,but she was wrong1 and became vaguely alarmed--at least if he had offered his service and sympathy in exchange for her friendship1 she might have understood his fantastic talk4 ,rentgen sourly reflected--despite epigrams1 women never vary4 ,for him her sentiment was suburban4 ,it strangled poetry4 ,but he said nothing1 though she imagined he looked depressed2 nor did he open his mouth as the carriage traversed avenues of processional poplars before arriving at her door4 ,she turned to him imploringly3-- ,you must come with me4 ,i shall never be able to go in alone1 without an excuse4 ,don't--don't repeat to ,richard what you said to me1 in joke1 ,i am sure1 about his music4 ,heavens6 ,what will my husband think8 ,there was despair in her voice1 but hopefulness in her gait and gesture1 when they reached the ill-lighted hall4 ,a night-lamp stood on the composer's study table4 ,the piano was open4 ,he sat at the keyboard1 though not playing1 as they hurriedly entered the room4 ,you poor fellow6 ,you look worn out4 ,did you think we had run away from you8 ,did you get the wires1 the telephone messages8 ,oh1 why did you keep us expecting you1 ,richard6 ,we have had a wonderful time and missed you so much6 ,such a talk with ,rentgen6 ,and all about you4 ,nicht wahr1 ,rentgen8 ,he says you are the only man in the world with a musical future4 ,isn't that so1 ,rentgen8 ,didn't you say that ,richard was the only man in whom you took any interest8 ,say what you said to me6 ,i dare you6 ,the musician1 aroused by this wordy assault1 looked from one to the other with his heavy eyes1 the eyes of an owl rudely disturbed4 ,alixe almost danced her excitement4 ,she hummed shrilly and grasped ,van ,kuyp's arm in the gayest rebounding humour4 ,why don't you speak1 ,maestro8 ,i didn't join you because ,i was too busy at my score4 ,listen1 children6 ,i have sketched the beginning of ,the ,shadowy ,horses4 ,you remember the ,yeats poem1 ,rentgen8 ,listen6 ,furiously he attacked the instrument1 from which escaped accents of veritable torture2 a delirium of tone followed1 meagre melodies fighting for existence in the boiling madness of it all2 it was the parody of a parody1 the music of yesterday masquerading as the music of to-morrow4 ,alixe nervously watched the critic4 ,he stood at the end of the piano and morosely fumbled his beard4 ,again a wave of anxious hatred1 followed by forebodings1 crowded her alert brain4 ,she desperately clutched her husband's shoulder2 he finished in a burst of sheer pounding and brutal roaring4 ,then she threw her arms about him in an ecstasy of pride--her confidence was her only anchorage4 ,there1 ,elvard ,rentgen6 ,what did you tell me8 ,i dare you to say that this music is not marvellous1 not original6 ,her victorious gaze1 in which floated indomitable faith1 challenged him1 as she drew the head of her husband to her protecting bosom4 ,the warring of exasperated eyes endured a moment2 to ,alixe it seemed eternity4 ,rentgen bowed and went away from this castle of cobwebs1 deeply stirred by the wife's tender untruths4444 ,she was the last dawn illuminating his empty1 sordid life1--now a burnt city of defaced dreams and blackened torches4 ,,ii ,,the ,,eighth ,,deadly ,,sin ,now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the ,lord ,god had made4--,genesis4 ,i ,,the ,,sermon ,and the ,seven ,deadly ,sins1 beloved brethren1 are3 ,pride1 ,covetousness1 ,lust1 ,anger1 ,gluttony1 ,envy1 ,sloth4 ,to these our wise ,mother1 the ,church1 opposes the contrary virtues3 ,humility1 ,chastity1 ,meekness1 ,temperance1 ,brotherly ,love1 ,diligence4 ,the voice of the preacher was clear and well modulated4 ,it penetrated to the remotest corner of the church4 ,baldur1 sitting near the pulpit1 with its elaborate traceries of marble1 idly wondered why the sins were1 with few exceptions1 words of one syllable1 while those of the virtues were all longer4 ,perhaps because it was easier to sin than to repent6 ,the voice of the speaker deepened as he continued3-- ,now the ,seven ,deadly ,arts are3 ,music1 ,literature1 ,painting1 ,sculpture1 ,architecture1 ,dancing1 ,acting4 ,the mercy of ,god has luckily purified these once pagan inventions1 and transformed them into saving instruments of grace4 ,yet it behooves us to examine with the utmost diligence the possible sources of evil latent in each and every one of those arts4 ,then we shall consider some of the special forms of sin that may develop from them4 ,st4 ,chrysostom warned the faithful against the danger of the ,eighth ,deadly ,art--,perfume4444 ,his phrases1 which began to fall into the rhythmic drone of a ,sunday sermon1 lulled ,baldur to dreaming4 ,perfume--that delicious vocable6 ,and the contrast with what his own nostrils reported to his consciousness made him slightly shiver4 ,it was on a ,friday night in ,lent that1 weary in flesh and spirit1 his conscience out of tune1 he had entered the church and taken the first vacant seat4 ,without1 the air was sluggish2 after leaving his club the idea of theatres or calls had set his teeth on edge4 ,he longed to be alone1 to weigh in the silence of his heart the utter futility of life4 ,religion had never been a part of his training as the only son of a millionnaire1 and if he preferred the ,roman ,catholic ritual above all others1 it was because the appeal was to his sthetic sense2 a ,turkish mosque1 he assured his friends1 produced the same soothing impression--gauze veils gently waving and slowly obscuring the dulling realities of everyday existence4 ,this morbidezza of the spirit the ,mahometans call ,kef2 the ,christians1 pious ecstasy4 ,but now he could not plunge himself1 despite the faint odour of incense lingering in the atmosphere1 into the deepest pit of his personality4 ,at first he ascribed his restlessness to the sultry weather1 then to his abuse of tea and cigarettes1--perhaps it was the sharp odour of the average congregation1 that collective odour of humanity encountered in church1 theatre1 or court-rooms4 ,the smell of poverty was mingled with the heavy scents of fashionable women1 who1 in the minority1 made their presence felt by their showy gowns1 rustling movements1 and attitudes of superior boredom4 ,in a vast building like this extremes touch with eagerness on the part of the poor1 to whom these furtive views of the rich and indolent brought with them a bitter consolation4 ,baldur remarked these things as he leaned back in his hard seat and barely listened to the sermon1 which poured forth as though the tap would never be turned off again4 ,and then a delicate note of iris1 most episcopal of perfumes1 emerged from the mass of odours--musk1 garlic1 damp shoes1 alcohol1 shabby clothing1 rubber1 pomade1 cologne1 rice-powder1 tobacco1 patchouli1 sachet1 and a hundred other tintings of the earthly symphony4 ,the finely specialized olfactory sense of the young man told him that it was either a bishop or a beautiful woman who imparted to the air the subtle1 penetrating aroma of iris4 ,but it was neither ecclesiastic nor maid4 ,at his side was a short1 rather thick-set woman of vague age2 she might have been twenty-five or forty4 ,her hair was cut in masculine fashion1 her attire unattractive4 ,as clearly as he could distinguish her features he saw that she was not good-looking4 ,a stern mask it was1 though not hardened4 ,he would not have looked at such an ordinary physiognomy twice if the iris had not signalled his peculiar sense4 ,there was no doubt that to her it was due4 ,susceptible as he was to odours1 ,baldur was not a ladies' man4 ,he went into society because it was his world2 and he attended in a perfunctory manner to the enormous estate left him by his father1 bound up in a single trust company4 ,but his thoughts were always three thousand miles away1 in that delectable city of cities1 ,paris4 ,for ,paris he suffered a painful nostalgia4 ,there he met his true brethren1 while in ,new ,york he felt an alien4 ,he was one4 ,the city1 with its high1 narrow streets--granite tunnels2 its rude reverberations2 its colourless1 toiling barbarians1 with their undistinguished physiognomies1 their uncouth indifference to art1--he did not deny that he loathed this nation1 vibrating only in the presence of money1 sports1 grimy ward politics1 while exhibiting a depressing snobbery to things ,british4 ,there was no nuance in its life or its literature1 he asserted4 ,france was his patrie psychique2 he would return there some day and forever4444 ,the iris crept under his nostrils1 and again he regarded the woman4 ,this time she faced him1 and he no longer wondered1 for he saw her eyes4 ,with such eyes only a great soul could be imprisoned in her brain4 ,they were smoke-gray1 with long1 dark lashes1 and they did not seem to focus perfectly--at least there was enough deflection to make their expression odd1 withal interesting1 like the slow droop of ,eleonora ,duse's magic eye4 ,though her features were rigid1 the woman's glance spoke to ,baldur1 spoke eloquently4 ,her eyes were--or was it the iris8--symbols of a soul-state1 of a rare emotion1 not of sex1 nor yet sexless4 ,the pupils seemed powdered with a strange iridescence4 ,he became more troubled than before4 ,what did the curious creature want of him6 ,she was neither coquette nor cocotte1 flirtation was not hinted by her intense expression4 ,he resumed his former position1 but her eyes made his shoulders burn1 as if they had sufficient power to bore through them4 ,he no longer paid any attention to his surroundings4 ,the sermon was like the sound of far-away falling waters1 the worshippers were so many black marks4 ,of two things was he aware--the odour of iris and her eyes4 ,he knew that he was in an overwrought mood4 ,for some weeks this mood had been descending upon his spirit1 like a pall4 ,he had avoided music1 pictures1 the opera--which he never regarded as an art2 even his favourite poets he could not read4 ,nor did he degustate1 as was his daily wont1 the supreme prose of the ,french masters4 ,the pleasures of robust stomachs1 gourmandizing and drinking1 were denied him by nature4 ,he could not sip a glass of wine1 and for meat he entertained distaste4 ,his physique proved him to be of the neurotic temperament--he was very tall1 very slim1 of an exceeding elegance1 in dress a finical dandy2 while his trim pointed blue-black beard and dark1 foreign eyes were the cause of his being mistaken often for a ,frenchman or a ,spaniard--which illusion was not dissipated when he chose to speak their several tongues4 ,involuntarily1 and to the ire of his neighbours1 he arose and indolently made his way down the side aisle4 ,when he reached the baize swinging doors1 he saw the woman approaching him4 ,as if she had been an acquaintance of years1 she saluted him carelessly1 and1 accompanied by the scandalized looks of many in the congregation1 the pair left the church1 though not before the preacher had sonorously quoted from the ,psalm1 ,domine ne in ,furore1 ,for my loins are filled with illusions2 and there is no health in my flesh4 ,,ii ,,the ,s,,ance ,je cherche des parfums nouveaux1 des fleurs plus larges1 des plaisirs inprouvs4--,,flaubert4 ,it may be all a magnificent illusion1 but-- he began4 ,everything is an illusion in this life1 though seldom magnificent1 she answered4 ,they slowly walked up the avenue4 ,the night was tepid2 motor cars1 looking like magnified beetles1 with bulging eyes of fire1 went swiftly by4 ,the pavements were almost deserted when they reached the park4 ,he felt as if hypnotized1 and once1 rather meanly1 was glad that no one saw him in company of his dowdy companion4 ,i wonder if you realize that we do not know each other's name1 he said4 ,oh1 yes4 ,you are ,mr4 ,baldur4 ,my name is ,mrs4 ,lilith ,whistler4 ,mrs4 ,whistler4 ,not the medium8 ,the medium--as you call it4 ,in reality ,i am only a woman1 happy1 or unhappy1 in the possession of super-normal powers4 ,not supernatural1 then8 he interposed4 ,he was a sceptic who called himself agnostic4 ,the mystery of earth and heaven might be interpreted1 but always in terms of science2 yet he did not fancy the superior manner in which this charlatan flouted the supernatural4 ,he had heard of her miracles--and doubted them4 ,she gave a little laugh at his correction4 ,what phrase-jugglers you men are6 ,you want all the splendours of the ,infinite thrown in with the price of admission6 ,i said super-normal1 because we know of nothing greater than nature4 ,things that are off the beaten track of the normal1 across the frontiers1 some call supernatural2 but it is their ignorance of the vast1 unexplored territory of the spirit--which is only the material masquerading in a different guise4 ,but you go to church1 to a ,lenten service--8 ,it was as if he had known her for years1 and their unconventional behaviour never crossed his mind4 ,he did not even ask himself where they were moving4 ,i go to church to rest my nerves--as do many other people1 she replied2 ,i was interested in the parallel of the ,seven ,deadly ,sins and the ,seven ,deadly ,arts4 ,you believe the arts are sinful8 ,he was curious4 ,i don't believe in sin at all4 ,a bad conscience is the result of poor digestion4 ,sins are created so that we pay the poll-tax to eternity--pay it on this side of the ferry4 ,yet the arts may become dangerous engines of destruction if wrongfully employed4 ,the ,fathers of the early ,church1 ,ambrose and the rest1 were right in viewing them suspiciously4--,he spoke3-- ,the arts diabolic6 ,then what of the particular form of wizardry practised so successfully by the celebrated ,mrs4 ,whistler1 one of whose names is1 according to the ,talmud1 that of ,adam's first wife8 ,what do you know1 my dear young man1 of diabolic arts8 ,only that ,i am walking with you near the park on a dark night of ,april and ,i never saw you before a half-hour ago4 ,isn't that magic--white1 not black8 ,pray do not mock magic1 either white or black4 ,remember the fate of the serpents manufactured by ,pharaoh's magicians4 ,they were1 need ,i tell you1 speedily devoured by the serpents of ,moses and ,aaron4 ,both parties did not play fair in the game4 ,if it was black magic to transform a rod into a snake on the part of ,pharaoh's conjurers1 was it any less reprehensible for the ,hebrew magicians to play the same trick8 ,it was prestidigitation for all concerned--only the side of the children of ,israel was espoused in the recital4 ,therefore1 do not talk of black or white magic4 ,there is only one true magic4 ,and it is not slate-writing1 toe-joint snapping1 fortune-telling1 or the vending of charms4 ,magic1 too1 is an art--like other arts4 ,this is forgotten by the majority of its practitioners4 ,hence the sordid vulgarity of the average mind-reader and humbugging spiritualist of the dark-chamber sance4 ,besides1 the study of the super-normal mind tells us of the mind in health--nature is shy in revealing her secrets4 ,they passed the lake and were turning toward the east driveway4 ,suddenly she stopped and under the faint starlight regarded her companion earnestly4 ,he had not been without adventures in his career--,paris always provided them in plenty2 but this encounter with a homely woman piqued him4 ,her eye he felt was upon him and her voice soothing4 ,mr4 ,baldur--listen6 ,since ,milton wrote his great poem the ,english-speaking people are all devil-worshippers1 for ,satan is the hero of ,paradise ,lost4 ,but ,i am no table-tipping medium eager for your applause or your money4 ,i don't care for money4 ,i think you know enough of me through the newspapers to vouchsafe that4 ,you are rich1 and it is your chief misery4 ,listen6 ,whether you believe it or not1 you are very unhappy4 ,let me read your horoscope4 ,your club life bores you2 you are tired of our silly theatres2 no longer do you care for ,wagner's music4 ,you are deracinated2 you are unpatriotic4 ,for that there is no excuse4 ,the arts are for you deadly4 ,i am sure you are a lover of literature4 ,yet what a curse it has been for you6 ,when you see one of your friends drinking wine1 you call him a fool because he is poisoning himself4 ,but you--you--poison your spirit with the honey of ,france1 of ,scandinavia1 of ,russia4 ,as for the society of women-- ,the ,eternal ,womanly6 he sneered4 ,the ,eternal ,simpleton1 you mean4 ,in that swamp of pettiness1 idiocy1 and materialism1 a man of your nature could not long abide4 ,religion--it has not yet responded to your need4 ,and without faith your sins lose their savour4 ,the arts--you don't know them all1 the ,seven ,deadly ,arts and the ,one ,beautiful ,art6 ,she paused4 ,her voice had been as the sound of delicate flutes4 ,he was aflame4 ,is there1 then1 an eighth art8 he quickly asked4 ,would you know it if you saw it8 ,of course4 ,where is it1 what is it8 ,she laughed and took his arm4 ,why did you look at me in church8 ,because--it was mere chance--no1 it may have been the odour of iris4 ,i am mad over perfume4 ,i think it a neglected art1 degraded to the function of anointment4 ,i have often dreamed of an art by which a dazzling and novel synthesis of fragrant perfumes would be invented by some genius1 some latter-day ,rimmel or ,lubin whom we could hail as a peer of ,chopin or ,richard ,strauss--two composers who have expressed perfume in tone4 ,roinard in his ,cantiques des ,cantiques attempted a concordance of tone1 light1 and odours4 ,yes--it was the iris that attracted me4 ,but ,i have no iris about me4 ,i have none now1 she simply replied4 ,he faced her4 ,no iris8 ,what--8 ,i thought iris1 she added triumphantly1 as she guided him into one of the side streets off ,madison ,avenue4 ,he was astounded4 ,she must be a hypnotist1 he said to himself4 ,no suggestion of iris clung to her now4 ,and he remembered that the odour disappeared after they left the church4 ,he held his peace until they arrived before a brown-stone house of the ordinary kind with an ,english basement4 ,she took a key from her pocket and1 going down several steps1 beckoned to him4 ,baldur followed4 ,his interest in this modern ,cassandra and her bizarre words was too great for him to hesitate or to realize that he would get himself into some dangerous scrape4 ,and was this truly the ,mrs4 ,whistler whose tricks of telepathy and other extraordinary antics had puzzled and angered the wise men of two continents8 ,he did not have much time for reflection4 ,a grilled door opened1 and presently he was in a room furnished very much like a physician's office4 ,electric bulbs1 an open grate1 and two bookcases gave the apartment a familiar1 cheerful appearance4 ,baldur sat down on a low chair1 and ,mrs4 ,whistler removed her commonplace headgear4 ,in the bright light she was younger than he had imagined1 and her head a beautifully modelled one--broad brows1 very full at the back1 and the mask that of an emotional actress4 ,her smoke-coloured eyes were most remarkable and her helmet of hair blue black4 ,and now that you are my guest at last1 ,mr4 ,baldur1 let me apologize for the exercise of my art upon your responsive nerves2 she made this witch-burning admission as if she were accounting for the absence of tea4 ,to his relief she offered him nothing4 ,he had a cigarette between his fingers1 but he did not care to smoke4 ,she continued3-- ,for some time ,i have known you--never mind how6 ,for some time ,i have wished to meet you4 ,i am not an impostor1 nor do ,i desire to pose as the goddess of a new creed4 ,but you1 ,irving ,baldur1 are a man among men who will appreciate what ,i may show you4 ,you love1 you understand1 perfumes4 ,you have even wished for a new art--don't forget that there are others in the world to whom the seven arts have become a thrice-told tale1 to whom the arts have become too useful4 ,all great art should be useless4 ,yet architecture houses us2 sculpture flatters us2 painting imitates us2 dancing is pure vanity2 literature and the drama1 mere vehicles for bread-earning2 while music--music1 the most useless art as it should have been--is in the hands of the speculators4 ,moreover music is too sexual--it reports in a more intense style the stories of our loves4 ,music is the memory of love4 ,what ,prophet will enter the temple of the modern arts and drive away with his divine scourge the vile money-changers who fatten therein8 ,her voice was shrill as she paced the room4 ,a very sibyl this1 her crest of hair agitated1 her eyes sparkling with wrath4 ,he missed the ,cuman tripod4 ,there is an art1 ,baldur1 an art that was one of the lost arts of ,babylon until now1 one based1 as are all the arts1 on the senses4 ,perfume--the poor1 neglected nose must have its revenge4 ,it has outlived the other senses in the sthetic field4 ,what of the palate--you have forgotten that4 ,cookery1 too1 is a fine art1 he ventured4 ,his smile irritated her4 ,yes1 ,frenchmen have invented symphonic sauces1 they say4 ,but again1 eating is a useful art2 primarily it serves to nourish the body4 ,when man was wholly wild--he is a mere barbarian to-day--his sense of smell guarded him from his foes1 from the beasts1 from a thousand dangers4 ,civilization1 with its charming odours of decay1--have you ever ventured to savour ,new ,york8--cast into abeyance the keenest of all the senses4 ,little wonder1 then1 that there was no art of perfume like the arts of vision and sound4 ,i firmly believe the ,hindoos1 ,egyptians1 and the ,chinese knew of such an art4 ,how account for the power of theocracies8 ,how else credit the tales of the saints who scattered perfumes--,st4 ,francis de ,paul1 ,st4 ,joseph of ,cupertino1 ,venturini of ,bergamo8 ,but1 he interrupted1 all this is interesting1 fascinating4 ,what ,i wish to know is what form your art may take4 ,how marshal odours as melodies in a symphony1 as colours on a canvas8 ,she made an impatient gesture4 ,and how like an amateur you talk4 ,melody6 ,when harmony is infinitely greater in music6 ,form6 ,when colour is infinitely greater than line6 ,the most profound music gives only the timbre--melodies are for infantile people without imagination1 who believe in patterns4 ,tone is the quality ,i wish on a canvas1 not anxious drawing4 ,so it is with perfumes4 ,i can blend them into groups of lovely harmony2 ,i can give you single notes of delicious timbre--in a word1 ,i can evoke an odour symphony which will transport you4 ,memory is a supreme factor in this art4 ,do not forget how the vaguest scent will carry you back to your youthful dreamland4 ,it is also the secret of spiritual correspondences--it plays the great rle of bridging space between human beings4 ,i sniff the air promise-crammed1 he gayly misquoted4 ,but when will you rewrite this ,apocalypse8 and how am ,i to know whether ,i shall really enjoy this feast of perfume1 if you can simulate the odour of iris as you did an hour ago8 ,i propose to show you an artificial paradise1 she firmly asserted4 ,in the middle of the room there was a round table1 the top inlaid with agate4 ,on it a large blue bowl stood1 and it was empty4 ,mrs4 ,whistler went to a swinging cabinet and took from it a dozen small phials4 ,now for the incantation1 he jokingly said4 ,in her matter-of-fact manner she placed the bottles on the table1 and uncorking them1 she poured them slowly into the bowl4 ,he broke the silence3-- ,isn't there any special form of hair-raising invocation that goes with this dangerous operation8 ,listen to this4 ,her eyes swimming with fire1 she intoned3-- ,as ,i came through the desert thus it was1 ,as ,i came through the desert3 ,lo you there1 ,that hillock burning with a brazen glare2 ,those myriad dusky flames with points aglow ,which writhed and hissed and darted to and fro2 ,a ,sabbath of the serpents1 heaped pell-mell ,for ,devil's roll-call and some fte in ,hell3 ,yet ,i strode on austere2 ,no hope could have no fear4 ,he did not seem to hear4 ,from out the bowl there was stealing a perfume which overmastered his will and led him captive to the lugubrious glade of the ,druids4444 ,,iii ,,the ,,circus ,,of ,,candles ,comme d'autres esprits voguent sur la musique1 ,le men1 mon amour6 nage sur ton parfum4 --,,baudelaire4 ,he was not dreaming1 for he saw the woman at the bowl1 saw her apartment4 ,but the interior of his brain was as melancholy as a lighted cathedral4 ,a mortal sadness encompassed him1 and his nerves were like taut violin strings4 ,it was within the walls of his skull1 that he saw--his mundane surroundings did not disturb his visions4 ,and the waves of dolour swept over his consciousness4 ,a mingling of tuberoses1 narcissus1 attar of roses1 and ambergris he detected in the air--as triste as a morbid nocturne of ,chopin4 ,this was followed by a blending of heliotrope1 moss-rose1 and hyacinth1 together with dainty touches of geranium4 ,he dreamed of ,beethoven's manly music when whiffs of apple-blossom1 white rose1 cedar1 and balsam reached him4 ,mozart passed roguishly by in strains of scarlet pimpernel1 mignonette1 syringa1 and violets4 ,then the sky was darkened with ,schumann's perverse harmonies as jasmine1 lavender1 and lime were sprayed over him4 ,music1 surely1 was the art nearest akin to odour4 ,a superb and subtle chord floated about him2 it was composed of vervain1 opoponax1 and frangipane4 ,he could not conceive of a more unearthly triad4 ,it was music from ,parsifal4 ,through the mists that were gathering he savoured a fulminating bouquet of patchouli1 musk1 bergamot1 and he recalled the music of ,mascagni4 ,brahms strode stolidly on in company with new-mown hay1 cologne1 and sweet peas4 ,liszt was interpreted as ylang-ylang1 myrrh1 and marchale2 ,richard ,strauss1 by wistaria1 oil of cloves1 chypre1 poppy1 and crab-apple4 ,suddenly there developed a terrific orchestration of chromatic odours3 ambrosia1 cassia1 orange1 peach-blossoms1 and musk of ,tonkin1 magnolia1 eglantine1 hortensia1 lilac1 saffron1 begonia1 peau d',espagne1 acacia1 carnation1 liban1 fleur de ,takeoka1 cypress1 oil of almonds1 benzoin1 jacinth1 rue1 shrub1 olea1 clematis1 the hediosma of ,jamaica1 olive1 vanilla1 cinnamon1 petunia1 lotus1 frankincense1 sorrel1 neroli from ,japan1 jonquil1 verbena1 spikenard1 thyme1 hyssop1 and decaying orchids4 ,this quintessential medley was as the sonorous blasts of ,berlioz1 repugnant and exquisite2 it swayed the soul of ,baldur as the wind sways the flame4 ,there were odours like wingd dreams2 odours as the plucked sounds of celestial harps2 odours mystic and evil1 corrupt and opulent2 odours recalling the sweet1 dense smell of chloroform2 odours evil1 angelic1 and anonymous4 ,they painted--painted by ,satan6--upon his cerebellum more than music--music that merged into picture2 and he was again in the glade of the ,druids4 ,the huge scent-symphony dissolved in a shower of black roses which covered the ground ankle-deep4 ,an antique temple of exotic architecture had thrown open its bronze doors1 and out there surged and rustled a throng of ,bacchanalian beings who sported and shouted around a terminal god1 which1 with smiling1 ironic lips1 accepted their delirious homage4 ,white nymphs and brown displayed in choric rhythms the dance of the ,seven ,deadly ,sins1 and their goat-hoofed mates gave vertiginous pursuit4 ,at first the pagan gayety of the scene fired the fancy of the solitary spectator2 but soon his nerves1 disordered by the rout and fatigued by the spoor of so many odours1 warned him that something disquieting was at hand4 ,he felt a nameless horror as the sinister bitter odour of honeysuckle1 sandalwood1 and aloes echoed from the sacred grove4 ,a score of seductive young witches pranced in upon their broomsticks1 and without dismounting surrounded the garden god4 ,a battalion of centaurs charged upon them4 ,the vespertine hour was nigh1 and over this iron landscape there floated the moon1 an opal button in the sky4 ,then to his shame and fear he saw that the ,satyr had vanished and in its place there reared the ,black ,venus1 the vile shape of ancient ,africa1 and her face was the face of ,lilith4 ,the screaming lovely witches capered in fantastic spirals1 each sporting a lighted candle4 ,it was the diabolic ,circus of the ,candles1 the infernal circus of the ,witches' ,sabbath4 ,rooted to the ground1 ,baldur realized with fresh amazement and vivid pain the fair beauty of ,adam's prehistoric wife1 her luxurious blond hair1 her shapely shoulders1 her stature of a goddess--he trembled1 for she had turned her mordant gaze in his direction4 ,and he strove in vain to bring back the comforting vision of the chamber4 ,she smiled1 and the odours of sandal1 coreopsis1 and aloes encircled his soul like the plaited strands of her glorious hair4 ,she was that other ,lilith1 the only offspring of the old ,serpent4 ,on what storied fresco1 limned by what worshipper of ,satan1 had these accursed lineaments1 this lithe1 seductive figure1 been shown6 ,names of ,satanic painters1 from ,hell-fire ,breughel to ,arnold ,bcklin1 from ,felicien ,rops to ,franz ,stuck1 passed through the halls of ,irving ,baldur's memory4 ,the clangour of the feast was become maddening4 ,he heard the ,venus ballet music from ,tannhuser entwined with the acridities of aloes1 sandal1 and honeysuckle4 ,then the aroma of pitch1 sulphur1 and assaftida cruelly strangled the other melodic emanations4 ,lilith1 disdaining the shelter of her nymphs and their clowneries1 stood forth in all the hideous majesty of nothea1 the undulating priestess of the ,abominable ,shape4 ,his nerves macerated by this sinful apparition1 ,baldur struggled to resist her mute command4 ,what was it8 ,he saw her wish streaming from her eyes4 ,despair6 ,despair6 ,despair6 ,there is no hope for thee1 wretched earthworm6 ,no abode but the abysmal ,house of ,satan6 ,despair1 and you will be welcomed6 ,by a violent act of volition1 set in motion by his fingers fumbling a small gold cross he wore as a watch-guard1 the heady fumes of the orgy dissipated4444 ,he was sitting facing the bowl1 and over it with her calm1 confidential gaze was the figure of ,lilith ,whistler4 ,have ,i proved to you that perfume is the art of arts8 she demanded4 ,he rushed from the room and was shaking the grilled gate in the hallway like a caged maniac1 when with a pitying smile she released him4 ,he reached the street at a bound4444 99 99 99 99 99 444 the evil of perfume1 ,i repeat1 was one against which the venerable ,fathers of the ,church warned the faithful4 ,the preacher's voice had sagged to a monotone4 ,baldur lifted his eyes in dismay4 ,near him sat the same woman1 and she still stared at him as if to rebuke him for his abstraction4 ,about her hovered the odour of iris4 ,had it been only a disturbing dream8 ,intoxicated by his escape from damnation1 from the last of the ,deadly ,arts1 he bowed his head in grateful prayer4 ,what ecstasy to be once more in the arms of ,mother ,church6 ,there1 dipped in her lustral waters1 and there alone would he find solace for his barren heart1 pardon for his insane pride of intellect1 and protection from the demons that waylaid his sluggish soul4 ,the sermon ended as it began3-- ,and the ,seven ,deadly ,sins1 beloved brethren1 are3 ,pride1 ,covetousness1 ,lust1 ,anger1 ,gluttony1 ,envy1 ,sloth4 ,oremus6 ,amen1 fervently responded ,baldur the ,immoralist4 ,,iii ,,the ,,purse ,,of ,,aholibah ,lo1 this is that ,aholibah ,whose name was blown among strange seas4444 --,,swinburne4 ,i ,,the ,,aviary ,when the last breakfast guests had gone the waiters of the caf began their most disagreeable daily task4 ,all the silver was assembled on one of the long tables in an inner room1 where1 as at a solemn conclave1 the servants took their seats1 and1 presided over by the major-domo of the establishment1 they polished the knives and forks1 spoons1 and sugar-tongs1 filled the salt-cellars1 replenished the pepper-boxes and other paraphernalia of the dining art4 ,the gabble in this close apartment was terrific4 ,joseph1 the matre d'htel1 rapped in vain a dozen times for silence4 ,the chef poked his head of a truculent ,gascon through the door and indulged in a war of wit with a long fellow from ,marseilles1--called the mast because he was very tall and thin1 and had cooked in the galley of a ,mediterranean trading brig4 ,from time to time one of the piccolos1 a fat little boy from the ,south1 carried in pitchers of flat beer1 brewed in the suburbs4 ,as it was a hot day1 he was kept busy4 ,the waiters had gone through a trying morning2 there were many strangers in ,paris4 ,outside1 the ,boulevard des ,italiens1 despite its shade trees1 broiled under a torrid ,july sun that swam in a mercilessly blue sky4 ,the majority of the men were listening to gossip about their colleagues in the ,caf ,cardinal across the way4 ,ambroise alone sat apart and patted and smoothed the salt in its receptacles4 ,he was a young man from some little town in ,alsace1 a furious patriot1 and the butt of his companions--for he was the latest comer in the ,caf ,riche4 ,though he told his family name1 ,nettier1 and declared that his father and mother were of ,french blood1 he was called the ,german4 ,he was good-looking1 very blond1 with big1 innocent blue eyes2 and while he was never molested personally1--a short1 sharp tussle with a cook had proved him to be a man of muscle1--behind his back his walk was mimicked1 his precise attitudes were openly bantered4 ,but ,ambroise stood this torture gantlet equably4 ,he had lived long enough among ,germans to copy their impassive manner and1 coupled with a natural contempt for his fellow-monkeys in the cage1 he knew that perhaps in a day a new man would receive all these unwelcome attentions4 ,moreover1 his work1 clear-cut1 unobtrusive1 and capable1 pleased ,m4 ,joseph4 ,and when the patron himself dined at the caf1 ,ambroise was the garon selected to wait upon him4 ,hence the jealousy of his colleagues4 ,couple to this the fact that he was reported miserly1 and had saved a large sum--which were all sufficient reasons for his unpopularity4 ,as the afternoon wore on little airs began to play in the tree-tops2 the street watering carts had been assiduous1 and before the terrace water had been sprinkled by the piccolos so effectively that at five o'clock1 when the jaded stock-brokers1 journalists1 and business men began to flock in1 each for his apritif1 the caf was comparatively cool4 ,a few women's frocks relieved the picture with discreet or joyous shades of white and pink4 ,ambroise was diligent and served his regular customers1 the men who grumbled if any one occupied their favourite corners4 ,absinthe nicely iced1 dominoes1 the evening papers--these he brought as he welcomed familiar faces4 ,but his thoughts were not his own1 and his pose when not in service was listless1 even bored4 ,would she return that evening with the same crowd--was the idea that had taken possession of his brain4 ,he was very timid in the presence of women1 and it diverted the waiters to see him blush when he waited upon the gorgeous birds that thronged the aviary at night1 making its walls echo with their chattering1 quarrels1 laughter4 ,this provincial1 modest1 sensitive1 the only child of old-fashioned parents1 was stupefied and shocked in the presence of the over-decorated and under-dressed creatures1 daubed like idols1 who began to flock in the caf1 with or without escorts1 after eleven o'clock every night in the year4 ,he knew them all by name4 ,he knew their histories4 ,he could detect at a glance whether they were unhappy or merely depressed by the rain1 whether they drank champagne from happiness or desperation4 ,notwithstanding his dreamy disposition his temperament was ardent2 his was an unspoiled soul2 he felt himself a sort of moral barometer for the magnificent and feline women who treated him as if he were a wooden post when they were gossiping1 harried him like an animal when they were thirsty4 ,he noted that they were always thirsty4 ,they smoked more than they ate1 and whispered more1 if no men were present1 than they smoked4 ,but then1 men were seldom absent4 ,the night previous1 ,ambroise recalled the fact1 she had not come in with a different set4 ,this was not her custom1 and he worried over it4 ,protected by princes and financiers1 she nevertheless loved her liberty so much that one seldom caught her in the same company twice in succession4 ,for this singular caprice ,aholibah1 oftener called the ,woman from ,morocco1--because she had lived in ,algiers1--was the despair of her circle4 ,why1 argued the other birds1 why fly in the face of luck8 ,to be sure1 she was still young1 still beautiful1 with that sort of metallic beauty which reminded ,ambroise of some priceless bronze blackened in the sun4 ,she was meagre1 diabolically graceful1 dark1 with huge saucer-like eyes that greedily drank in her surroundings4 ,but her lashes were long1 and she could veil her glance so that her brilliant face looked as if the shutters had been closed on her soul4 ,across her brows a bar of blue-black marked the passage of her eyebrows--which sable line was matched by her abundant hair1 worn in overshadowing clusters4 ,she dressed winter and summer in scarlet1 and her stage name was ,aholibah--bestowed upon her by some fantastic poet who had not read ,ezekiel1 but ,swinburne4 ,it was rumoured by her intimates that her real name was ,clotilde ,durval1 that her mother had been a seamstress4444 ,with a sinking at the heart ,ambroise saw her enter in the company of the same gentleman she had brought the previous evening4 ,the garon did not analyze this strange1 jealous feeling1 for he was too busily employed in seating his guests and relieving the man of his hat and walking-stick4 ,an insolent chap it was1 with his air of an assured conqueror and the easy bearing of wealth4 ,there was little discussion as to the order--a certain brand of wine1 iced beyond recognition for any normal palate1 was always served to ,aholibah4 ,she loved needles on her tongue1 she asseverated if any one offered her weaker stuff4 ,that ,july night she looked like a piratical craft that had captured a sleek merchantman for prize4 ,she was all smoothness2 ,ambroise alone detected the retracted claws of the leopardess4 ,she blazed in the electric illumination1 and her large hat1 with its swelling plumes1 threw her dusky features into shadow--her eyes seemed far away under its brim and glowed with unholy phosphorescence4 ,while he arranged the details of the silver wine-pail in the other room1 the chef asked him if the ,princess ,comet had arrived4 ,ambroise almost snarled--much to the astonishment of the ,gascon4 ,and when the sommelier attempted to help him with the wine1 he was elbowed vigorously4 ,ambroise must have been drinking too much1 said the boys4 ,joseph rather curiously inspected his waiter as he made his accustomed round in the caf4 ,but1 pale as usual1 ,ambroise stood near his table1 his whole bearing an intent and thoroughly professional one4 ,joseph was satisfied and drove the chef back to the kitchen4 ,the young ,alsatian had never seen ,aholibah look so radiant4 ,she was in high spirits1 and her pungent talk aroused her companion from incipient moroseness4 ,after midnight the party grew--some actresses from a near-by theatre came in with their male friends1 and another waiter was detailed to the aid of ,ambroise4 ,but he stuck to the first-comers and served so much wine to them that he had the satisfaction of seeing ,aholibah's disagreeable protector collapse4 ,she hardly noticed it1 for she was talking vivaciously to ,madeleine about the premire of ,donnay's comedy4 ,thrice ,ambroise sought to fill her glass2 but she repulsed him4 ,he was sad4 ,something told him that ,aholibah was farther away from him than ever2 was she on the eve of forming one of those alliances that would rob him finally of her presence8 ,he eyed the sleeping man--surely a monster1 a millionnaire1 with the tastes of a brute4 ,it was all very trying to a man with fine nerves4 ,several times he caught ,aholibah's eye upon him1 and he vaguely wondered if he had omitted anything--or1 had he betrayed his feelings8 ,in ,paris the waiter who shows that he has ears1 or eyes1 or a heart1 except in the exercise of his functions1 is lost4 ,he is bound to be caught and his telltale humanity scourged by instant dismissal4 ,so when those fathomless eyes glittered in his direction1 his knees trembled1 and a ball of copper invaded his throat4 ,he could barely drag himself to her side and ask if he could help her4 ,a burst of impertinent laughter greeted him1 and ,madeleine cried3-- ,your blond garon seems smitten1 ,aholibah6 ,when ,ambroise heard this awful phrase1 his courage quite forsook him1 and he withdrew into the obscurity of the hall4 ,so white was he that the kindly ,joseph asked solicitously if he were ill4 ,ambroise shook his head4 ,the heat1 he feebly explained1 had made his head giddy4 ,better drink some iced mineral water1 was suggested--the other man could look after the party6 ,but ,ambroise would not hear of this1 and feeling once more the beckoning gaze of ,aholibah he marched bravely to her and was rewarded by a tap on the wrist4 ,there1 loiterer6 ,go call a carriage4 ,the ,prince is sleepy--dear sheep6 ,this last was a tender apostrophe to her snoring friend4 ,ambroise helped them into a fiacre4 ,when it drove away it was past two o'clock2 the house had to be closed4 ,he walked slowly home to his little chamber on the ,rue ,puteaux1 just off the ,batignolles4 ,but he could not sleep until the street-cleaners began the work of another day4444 ,the ,woman from ,morocco was the scarlet colour of his troubled dreams4444 99 99 99 99 99 ,august had almost spent itself1 and ,aholibah remained in the arid and flavourless town4 ,her intimate friends had weeks earlier gone to ,trouville1 to ,dinard1 to ,ostende1 to ,hombourg1 even as far as ,brighton2 but she lingered1 seemingly from perversity4 ,she came regularly to the caf about eleven1 always in company with her ,prince1 and was untiringly served by ,ambroise4 ,he was rewarded for his fidelity with many valuable tips and latterly with gifts--for on being questioned he was forced to admit that gratuities had to be shared with the other waiters4 ,he was so amiable1 his smile so winning1 his admiration so virginal1 that ,aholibah kept him near her4 ,her ,prince drank1 sulked1 or grumbled as much as ever4 ,he was bored by the general heat and the dulness1 yet made no effort to escape either4 ,one night they entered after twelve o'clock4 ,aholibah was in vicious humour and snapped at her garon4 ,dog-like he waited upon her1 an humble1 devoted helot4 ,he overheard her say to her companion that she must have lost the purse at the ,folies-,bergres4 ,well1 go to the ,rue de la ,paix to-morrow and buy another1 was the reply4 ,i can't replace that purse4 ,besides1 it was a prized gift-- ,from your sainted mother in heaven6 he sneered4 ,ambroise saw the windows of her eyes close with a snap1 and he moved away1 fearing to be present in the surely impending quarrel4 ,he remembered the purse4 ,it was a long gold affair1 its tiny links crusted with precious pearls--emeralds1 rubies1 diamonds4 ,and the top he saw before him with ease1 for its pattern was odd--a snake's head with jaws distended by a large amethyst4 ,yes1 it was unique1 that purse4 ,and its value must have been bewildering for any but the idle rich4 ,ah6 how he hated all this money1 coming from nowhere1 pouring in golden streams nowhere4 ,he was not a revolutionist1--not even a socialist1--but there were times when he could have taken the neck of the ,prince between his strong fingers and choked out his worthless life4 ,these attacks of envy were short-lived--he could not ascribe them to the reading of the little hornet-like anarchist sheet1 ,pre ,peinard1 which the other waiters lent him2 rather was it an excess of bile provoked by the coveted beauty of ,aholibah4 ,she usurped his day dreams1 his night reveries4 ,he never took a step without keeping her memory in the foreground4 ,when he closed his eyes1 he saw scarlet4 ,when he opened them1 he felt her magnetic glance upon him1 though she was far from the caf4 ,his one idea was to speak with her4 ,his maddest wish assumed the shape of a couple walking slowly arm in arm through the ,bois--she was the woman6 ,but this particular vision bordered on delirium1 and he rarely indulged in it4444 ,he stooped to look under the chairs1 under the table1 for the missing treasure4 ,it was not to be seen4 ,indolently the ,prince watched him as he peered all over the caf1 out on the terrace4 ,aholibah was deeply preoccupied4 ,she sipped her wine without pleasure4 ,her brows were thunderous4 ,the cart-wheel hat was tipped low over them4 ,several times ,ambroise sought her glance4 ,he could have sworn that she was regarding him steadily4 ,so painful became the intensity of her eyes that he withdrew in confusion4 ,his mind was made up at last4 ,the next day was for him a free one4 ,he wandered up and down the ,rue de la ,paix staring moodily into the jewellers' windows4 ,that night1 though he could have stayed away from the caf1 he returned at ten o'clock1 and luckily enough was needed4 ,joseph greeted him effusively4 ,the mast1 the thin fellow from ,marseilles1 had gone home with a splitting headache4 ,would ,ambroise stay and serve his usual table8 ,to his immense astonishment and joy he saw her enter alone4 ,he took her wraps and seated her on her favourite divan near an electric fan4 ,then he stared expectantly at the door4 ,but her carriage had driven away4 ,was a part of his dream coming true8 ,he closed his eyes1 and straightway saw scarlet4 ,then he went for wine1 without taking her order4 ,aholibah was preoccupied4 ,she played with the bracelet on her tawny left wrist4 ,occasionally she lifted her glass1 or else tossed her hair from her eyes4 ,if any stranger ventured near her1 she began to hum insolently1 or spoke earnestly with ,ambroise4 ,he was in the eleventh heaven of the ,persians4 ,two ,ambroises appeared to be in him3 one served his lady1 spoke with her2 the other from afar contemplated with the ecstasy of a hasheesh eater his counterfeit brother4 ,it was an exquisite sensation4 ,the purse--has ,mademoiselle-- ,he stammered4 ,no1 she crisply answered4 ,can it never be duplicated8 ,perhaps-- ,never4 ,it is impossible4 ,it was made in ,africa4 ,but--but-- he persisted4 ,his bearing was so peculiar that she bent upon him her dynamic gaze4 ,what's the matter with you this evening1 ,ambroise8 ,have you come into a successful lottery ticket8 ,or-- ,she was suspiciously looking at him4 ,or--you haven't found it8 ,he nodded his head1 his face beatific with joy4 ,he resembled the youthful ,saint ,george after slaying the dragon4 ,she was startled4 ,her eyes positively lightened2 he listened for the attendant peal of thunder4 ,speak out1 you booby4 ,cornichon6 ,where did you find it8 ,let me see it--at once4 ,all fire and imperiousness1 she held out grasping fingers4 ,he shook4 ,and then carefully he drew from the inside pocket of his coat1 the purse4 ,she snatched it4 ,yes--it was her purse4 ,and yet there was something strange about it4 ,had the stones been tampered with8 ,she examined it searchingly4 ,she boasted a jeweller's knowledge of diamonds and rubies4 ,one of the stones had been transposed1 that she could have sworn4 ,and how different the expression of the serpent's eyes--small carbuncles4 ,no--it was not her purse6 ,she looked at ,ambroise4 ,he was paling and reddening in rapid succession4 ,it is not my purse6 ,how did this come into your possession8 ,it is very valuable1 quite as valuable as mine4 ,but the eyes of my serpent were not so large--,i mean the carbuncles4 ,ambroise--look at me6 ,i command you6 ,where did you find this treasure--cher ami6 ,her seductive voice lingered on the last words as if they were a morsel of delicious fruit4 ,he leaned heavily on the table and closed his eyes to shut out her face--but he only saw scarlet4 ,he heard scarlet4 ,i--,i--bought the thing because--you missed the other-- ,he could get no further4 ,she smiled1 showing her celebrated teeth4 ,you bought the thing--hein8 ,you must be a prince in disguise--,ambroise6 ,and ,i have just lost my ,prince6 ,perhaps--you thought--you audacious boy-- ,he kept his eyes closed4 ,she was in a corner of the room--quite empty--the other waiters were on the terrace4 ,she weighed his appearance and smiled mysteriously2 her smile1 her glance1 and her scarlet gowns were her dramatic assets4 ,then she spoke in a low voice--a contralto like the darker tones of an ,english horn3-- ,i fancy ,i'll keep your thoughtful gift--,ambroise4 ,and now1 like a good boy1 get a fiacre for me6 ,she went away1 leaving him standing in the middle of the room1 a pillar of burning ice4 ,when ,joseph spoke to him he did not answer4 ,then they took him by the arm1 and he fell over in a seizure which1 asserted the practical head waiter1 was caused by indigestion4 ,,ii ,,across ,,the ,,styx ,it was raining on the ,left ,bank4 ,the chill of a ,november afternoon cut its way through the doors of the ,caf ,la ,source in the ,boul' ,mich' and made shiver the groups of young medical students who were reading or playing dominos4 ,ambroise ,nettier1 older1 thinner1 paler1 waited carefully on his patrons4 ,he had been in the hospital with brain fever1 and after he was cured1 one of the students secured him a position at this caf in the ,quartier4 ,he had been afraid to go back to the ,caf ,riche2 ,joseph had harshly discharged him on that terrible night2 alone1 without a home1 without a penny1 his savings gone1 his life insurance hypothecated1--it had been intended for the benefit of his parents1--his clothes1 his very trunk gone1 and plunged in debt to his fellow-waiters1 his brain had succumbed to the shock4 ,but ,ambroise was young and strong2 when he left the hospital he was relieved to find that he no longer saw scarlet4 ,he was a healed man4 ,he had intended to seek for a place at the ,caf ,cardinal1 but it was too near the ,caf ,riche--he might meet old acquaintances1 might be asked embarrassing questions4 ,so he gladly accepted his present opportunity4 ,the dulness of the day waxed with its waning4 ,it was nearly six o'clock when the door slowly opened and ,aholibah entered4 ,she was alone4 ,her scarlet plumage was wet1 and she was painted like a ,peruvian war-god4 ,she did not appear so brilliant a bird of paradise--or elsewhere--as at the aviary across the water4 ,yet her gaze was as forthright as ever4 ,she sat on a divan between two domino parties1 and was hardly noticed by the fanatics of that bony diversion4 ,recognizing ,ambroise1 she made a sign to him4 ,it was some minutes before he could reach her table2 he had other orders4 ,when he did1 she said she wanted some absinthe4 ,he stared at her4 ,yes1 absinthe--she had discarded iced wines4 ,the doctor told her that cold wine was dangerous4 ,he still stared4 ,then she held up the purse4 ,it was a mere shell2 all the stones save the amethyst in the mouth of the serpent were gone4 ,she laughed shrilly4 ,he went for the drink4 ,she lighted a cigarette4444 ,every night for six months she haunted the caf4 ,she was always unattended1 always in excellent humour4 ,she made few friends among the students4 ,her scarlet dress grew shabbier4 ,her gloves and boots were pitiful to ,ambroise1 who recalled her former splendours1 her outrageous extravagances4 ,why had fortune flouted her6 ,why had she let it1 like water1 escape through her jewelled1 indifferent fingers6 ,he made no inquiries4 ,she vouchsafed none4 ,they were now on a different footing4 ,tantalizingly she dangled the purse under his nose as he brought her absinthe--always this opalescent absinthe4 ,she drank it in the morning1 in the afternoon1 at night4 ,she seldom spoke save to ,ambroise4 ,and he--he no longer saw scarlet1 for the glorious tone of her hat and gown had vanished4 ,they were rusty red1 a carroty tint4 ,her face was like the mask of ,la ,buveuse d',absinthe1 by ,felicien ,rops2 her eyes1 black wells of regard2 her hair without lustre1 and coarse as the mane of a horse4 ,aholibah no longer manifested interest in the life of ,paris4 ,she did not read or gossip4 ,but she still had money to spend4 ,the night he quarrelled with his new patron1 ,ambroise was not well4 ,all the day his head had pained him4 ,when he reached ,la ,source1 the dame at the cashier's desk told him that he was in for a scolding4 ,he shrugged his thin shoulders4 ,he didn't care very much4 ,later the prophesied event occurred4 ,he had been much too attentive to the solitary woman who drank absinthe day and night4 ,the patron did not propose to see his establishment1 patronized as it was by the shining lights of medicine--6 ,ambroise changed his clothes and went away without a word4 ,he was weary of his existence1 and a friend who shared his wretched room in the ,rue ,mouffetard had apprised him of a vacant job at a livelier resort1 the ,caf ,vachette1 commonly known as the ,caf ,rasta4 ,there he would earn more tips1 though the work would be more fatiguing4 ,and--the ,morocco ,woman might not follow him4 ,he hurried away4 ,,iii ,,avernus ,she sat on a divan in the corner when he entered the ,vachette for the first time4 ,he said nothing1 nor did he experience either a thrill of pleasure or disgust4 ,the other waiters assured him that she was an old customer1 sometimes better dressed1 yet never without money4 ,and she was liberal4 ,he took her usual order1 but did not speak to her1 though she played with the purse as if to tempt him--it had become for him a symbol of their lives4 ,a quick glance assured him that the amethyst had disappeared4 ,she was literally drinking his gift away in absinthe4 ,the spring passed1 and ,ambroise did not regain his former health4 ,his limbs were leaden1 his head always heavy4 ,the alert waiter was transformed4 ,he took his orders soberly1 executed them soberly1--he was still a good routinier2 but his early enthusiasm was absent4 ,something had gone from him that night2 as she went to her carriage with her scornful1 snapping1 petulant a6--he felt that his life was over4 ,aholibah watched like a cat every night2 he was not on for day duty4 ,she never came to the ,rasta before dark4 ,the story of her infatuation for the well-bred1 melancholy garon was noised about2 but it did not endanger his position1 as at ,la ,source4 ,he paid little attention to the jesting1 and was scrupulously exact in his work4 ,but the sense of his double personality began to worry him again4 ,he did not see scarlet as of old2 he noticed when his eyes were closed that the apparition of a second ,ambroise swam into the field of his vision4 ,and he was positively certain that this spectre of himself saw scarlet--the attitude of his double assured him of the fact4 ,simple-minded1 ignorant of cerebral disorders1 loyal1 and laborious1 ,ambroise could not speak of these disquieting things--indeed1 he only worked the more4444 ,at last1 one night in late summer1 she did not appear4 ,it was after a day when she had sung more insolently than ever1 drunk more than her accustomed allowance1 and had shown ,ambroise the purse--the sockets of the serpent's eyes untenanted by the beautiful carbuncles4 ,apathetic as he had become1 he was surprised at her absence4 ,it was either caprice or serious illness4 ,she had dwindled to a skeleton1 with a maleficent smile4 ,her teeth were yellow1 her hands become claws1 the scarlet of her clothes a drab hue1 the plumes on her hat gone4 ,ambroise wondered4 ,about midnight a mean-looking fellow entered and asked for him4 ,a lady1 a very ill lady1 was in a coup at the door4 ,he hurried out4 ,it was ,aholibah4 ,her eyes were glazed and her lips black and cracked4 ,she tried to croon1 in a hoarse voice3-- ,i am the ,woman of ,morocco6 ,but her head fell on the window-sill of the carriage4 ,ambroise lifted the weary head on his shoulder4 ,his eyes were so dry that they seemed thirsty4 ,the old glamour gripped him4 ,the cabman held the reins and waited2 it was an every-night occurrence for him4 ,the starlight could not penetrate to the ,boulevard through the harsh electric glare2 and the whirring of wheels and laughter of the caf's guests entered the soul of ,ambroise like steel nails4 ,she opened her eyes4 ,i am that ,aholibah 444 a witness through waste ,asia 444 that the strong men and the ,captains knew 444 ,this line of ,swinburne's was pronounced in the purest ,english4 ,ambroise did not understand4 ,then followed some rapidly uttered jargon that might have been ,moorish4 ,he soothed her1 and softly passed his hand over her rough and dishevelled hair4 ,his heart was bursting4 ,she was after all his ,aholibah1 his first love4 ,a crowd gathered4 ,he asked for a doctor4 ,a dozen students ran in a dozen different directions4 ,the tired horse stamped its feet impatiently1 and once it whinnied4 ,the coachman lighted his pipe and watched his dying fare4 ,some wag sang a drunken lyric1 and ,ambroise repeated at intervals3-- ,please not so close1 ,messieurs4 ,she needs air4 ,then she moved her head and murmured3 ,where's--my ,prince8 ,my--,prince ,ambroise--,i have something-- ,her head fell back on his shoulder with a rigid jerk4 ,in her clenched fingers he recognized his purse--smudged1 torn1 the serpent mouth gaping1 the eyes empty4444 ,and for the last time ,ambroise saw scarlet--saw scarlet double4 ,his two personalities had separated1 never to merge again4 ,,iv ,,rebels ,,of ,,the ,,moon ,on my honour1 friend1 ,zarathustra answered1 what thou speakest of doth not exist3 there is no devil nor hell4 ,thy soul will be dead even sooner than thy body3 henceforth fear naught4 ,the moon1 a spiritual gray wafer1 fainted in the red wind of a summer morning as the two men leaped a ditch soft with mud4 ,the wall was not high1 the escape an easy one4 ,crouching1 their clothes the colour of clay1 they trod cautiously the trench1 until opposite a wood whose trees blackened the slow dawn4 ,then1 without a word1 they ran across the road1 and1 in a few minutes1 were lost in the thick underbrush of the little forest4 ,it was past four o'clock and the dawn began to trill over the rim of night2 the east burst into stinging sun rays1 while the moving air awoke the birds and sent scurrying around the smooth green park a cloud of golden powdery dust4444 ,arved and ,quell stood in a secret glade and looked at each other solemnly--but only for a moment4 ,laughter1 unrestrained laughter1 frightened the squirrels and warned them that they were still in danger4 ,well1 we've escaped this time1 said the poet4 ,yes2 but how long8 was the sardonic rejoinder of the painter4 ,see here1 ,quell1 you're a pessimist4 ,you are never satisfied2 which1 ,i take it1 is a neat definition of pessimism4 ,i don't propose to chop logic so early in the morning1 was the surly reply4 ,i'm cold and nervous4 ,say1 did you lift anything before we got away8 ,arved smiled the significant smile of a drinking man4 ,yes1 ,i did4 ,i waited until ,doc ,mc,kracken left his office1 and then ,i sneaked this4 ,the severe lines in ,quell's face began to swim together4 ,he reached out his hand1 took the flask1 and then threw back his head4 ,arved watched him with patient resignation4 ,hold on there6 ,leave a dozen drops for a poor maker of rhymes1 he chuckled1 and soon was himself gurgling the liquor4 ,they arose1 and after despairing glances at their bespattered garments1 trudged on4 ,in an hour1 the pair had reached the edge of the forest1 and1 as the sun sat high and warm1 a rest was agreed upon4 ,but this time they did not easily find a hiding-place4 ,fearing to venture nearer the turnpike1 hearing human sounds1 they finally retired from the clearing1 and behind a moss-etched rock discovered a cool resting-place on the leafy floor4 ,at full length1 hands under heads1 brains mellowed by brandy1 the men summed up the situation4 ,arved was the first to speak4 ,he was tall1 blond1 heavy of figure1 and his beard hung upon his chest4 ,his dissatisfied eyes were cynical when he rallied his companion4 ,a man of brains this1 but careless as the grass4 ,quell1 let us think this thing out carefully4 ,it is nearly six o'clock4 ,at six o'clock the cells will be unlocked1 and then1--well1 ,mc,kracken will damn our bones1 for he gets a fat board fee from my people1 and the table is not so cursed good at the ,hermitage that he misses a margin of profit6 ,what will he do8 ,set the dogs after us8 ,no1 he daren't2 we're not convicts--we're only mad folk4 ,he smiled good-humouredly1 though his white brow was dented as if by harsh thoughts4 ,quell's little bloodshot eyes stared up into a narrow channel of foliage1 at the end of which was a splash of blue sky4 ,he was mean-appearing1 with a horselike head1 his mustache twisted into a savage curl4 ,his forehead was abnormal in breadth and the irritable flashes of fire in his eyes told the story of a restless soul4 ,the nostrils expanded as he spoke3-- ,we're only mad folk1 as you say2 nevertheless1 the ,lord ,high ,keeper will send his police patrol wagon after us in a jiffy4 ,he went to bed dead full last night1 so his humour won't be any too sweet when he hears that several of his boarders have vanished4 ,he'll miss you more than me2 ,i'm not at the first table with you swells4 ,quell ended his speech with so disagreeable an inflection that ,arved was astonished4 ,he looked around and spat at a beetle4 ,what's wrong with you1 my hearty8 ,i believe you miss your soft iron couch4 ,or did you leave it this morning left foot foremost8 ,anyhow1 ,quell1 don't get on your ear4 ,we'll push to town as soon as it's twilight1 and ,i know a little crib near the river where we can have all we want to eat and drink4 ,do you hear--drink6 ,quell made no answer4 ,the other continued3-- ,besides1 ,i don't see why you've turned sulky simply because your family sent you up to the ,hermitage4 ,it's no disgrace4 ,in fact1 it steadies the nerves1 and you can get plenty of booze4 ,if you have the price1 snapped his friend4 ,money or no money1 ,mc,kracken's asylum--no1 it's bad taste to call it that2 his retreat1 ah1 there's the word6--is not so awful4 ,i've a theory that our keepers are crazy as loons2 though you can't blame them1 watching us1 as they must1 from six o'clock in the morning until midnight4 ,say1 why were you put away8 ,crazy1 like yourself1 ,i suppose4 ,quell grinned4 ,and now we're cured4 ,we cured ourselves by flight4 ,how can they call us crazy when we planned the job so neatly8 ,arved began to be interested in the sound of his own voice4 ,he searched his pockets and after some vain fumbling found a half package of cigarettes4 ,take some and be happy1 my boy4 ,they are boon-sticks indeed4 ,quell suddenly arose4 ,arved1 what were you sent up for1 may ,i ask8 ,the poet stretched his big legs1 rolled over on his back again1 and scratching his tangled beard1 smoked the cigarette he had just lighted4 ,in the hot hum of the woods there was heard the occasional dropping of pine cones as the wind fanned lazy music from the leaves4 ,they could not see the sun2 its power was felt4 ,perspiration beaded their shiny faces and presently they removed collars and coats1 sitting at ease in shirt-sleeves4444 ,arved's tongue began to speed3-- ,though ,i've only known you twenty-four hours1 my son1 ,i feel impelled to tell you the history of my happy life--for happiness has its histories1 no matter what the poets say4 ,but the day is hot1 our time limited4 ,wait until we are recaptured1 then ,i'll spin you a yarn4 ,you expect to get caught for sure8 ,i do4 ,so do you4 ,no need to argue--your face tells me that4 ,but we'll have the time of our life before they gather us in4 ,anyhow1 we'll want to go back4 ,the whole world is crazy1 but ashamed to acknowledge it4 ,we are not4 ,pascal said men are so mad that he who would not be is a madman of a new kind4 ,to escape ineffable dulness is the privilege of the lunatic2 the lunatic1 who is the true aristocrat of nature--the unique man in a tower of ivory1 the elect1 who1 in samite robes1 traverses moody gardens4 ,really1 ,i shudder at the idea of ever living again in yonder stewpot of humanity1 with all its bad smells4 ,to struggle with the fools for their idiotic prizes is beyond me4 ,the lunatic asylum-- ,can't you find some other word8 asked ,quell1 dryly4 --is the best modern equivalent for the tub of ,diogenes--he who was the first ,solitary1 the first ,individualist4 ,to dream one's dreams1 to be alone-- ,how about ,mc,kracken and the keepers8 ,from the volatile intellects of madmen are fashioned the truths of humanity4 ,mental repose is death4 ,all our modern theocrats1 politicians1--whose minds are sewers for the people1--and lawyers are corpses1 their brains dead from feeding on dead ideas4 ,motion is life--mad minds are always in motion4 ,let up there6 ,you talk like the doctor chaps over at the crazy crib1 interrupted ,quell4 ,ah1 if we could only arrange our dreams in chapters--as in a novel4 ,sometimes ,nature does it for us4 ,there is really a beginning1 a development1 a dnouement4 ,but1 for the most of us1 life is a crooked road with weeds so high that we can't see the turn of the path4 ,now1 my case--,i'm telling you my story after all--my case is a typical one of the artistic sort4 ,i wrote prose1 verse1 and dissipated with true poetic regularity4 ,it was after reading ,nietzsche that ,i decided to quit my stupid1 sinful ways4 ,yes1 you may smile6 ,it was ,nietzsche who converted me4 ,i left the old crowd1 the old life in ,paris1 went to ,brittany1 studied new rhythms1 new forms1 studied the moon2 and then people began to touch their foreheads knowingly4 ,i was suspected simply because ,i did not want to turn out sweet sonnets about the pretty stars4 ,why1 man1 ,i have a star in my stomach6 ,every poet has4 ,we are of the same stuff as the stars4 ,it was ,marlowe who said1 ',a sound magician is a mighty god4' ,he was wrong4 ,only the mentally unsound are really wise4 ,this the ancients knew4 ,even if ,gerard de ,nerval did walk the boulevards trolling a lobster by a blue ribbon--that is no reason for judging him crazy4 ,as he truly said1 ',lobsters neither bark nor bite2 and they know the secrets of the sea6' ,his dreams simply overflowed into his daily existence4 ,he had the courage of his dreams4 ,do you remember his declaring that the sun never appears in dreams8 ,how true6 ,but the moon does1 'sexton of the planets1' as the crazy poet ,lenau called it--the moon which is the patron sky-saint of men with brains4 ,ah1 brains6 ,what unhappiness they cause in this brainless world1 a world rotten with hypocrisy4 ,a poet polishes words until they glitter with beauty1 charging them with fulminating meaning--straightway he is called mad by men who sweat and toil on the stock exchange4 ,have you ever1 my dear ,quell1 watched those little1 grotesque brokers on a busy day8 ,no8 ,well1 you will say that no lunatic grimacing beneath the horns of the moon ever made such ludicrous1 such useless1 gestures4 ,and for what8 ,money6 ,money to spend as idiotically as it is garnered4 ,the world is crazy1 ,i tell you1 crazy1 to toil as it does4 ,how much cleverer are the apes who won't talk1 because1 if they did1 they would be forced to abandon their lovely free life1 put on ugly garments1 and work for a living4 ,these animals1 for which we have such contempt1 are freer than men2 they are the ,supermen of ,nietzsche--,nietzsche whose brain mirrored both a ,prometheus and a ,napoleon4 ,quell listened to this speech with indifference4 ,arved continued3-- ,nor was ,nietzsche insane when he went to the asylum4 ,his sanity was blinding in its brilliancy2 he voluntarily renounced the world of foolish faces and had himself locked away where he would not hear its foolish clacking4 ,o ,silence6 gift of the gods1 deified by ,carlyle in many volumes and praised by me in many silly words6 ,my good fellow1 society1 which is always hypocritical1 has to build lunatic asylums in self-defence4 ,these polite jails keep the world in countenance2 they give it a standard4 ,if you are behind the bars-- ,speak for yourself1 growled ,quell4 ,then the world knows that you are crazy and that it is not4 ,there is no other way of telling the difference4 ,so a conspiracy of fools1 lawyers1 and doctors is formed4 ,if you do not live the life of the stupid3 cheat1 lie1 steal1 smirk1 eat1 dance1 and drink--then you are crazy6 ,that fact agreed upon1 the hypocrites1 who are quite mad1 but cunning enough to dissemble1 lock behind bolted doors those free souls1 the poets1 painters1 musicians--artistic folk in general4 ,they brand our gifts with fancy scientific names1 such as ,megalomania1 ,paranoia1 ,folie des grandeurs4 ,show me a genius and ,i'll show you a madman--according to the world's notion4 ,there you go again1 cried ,quell1 arising to his knees4 ,genius1 ,i believe1 is a disease of the nerves2 and ,i don't mind telling you that ,i consider poets and musicians quite crazy4 ,arved's eyes were blazing blue signals4 ,but1 my dear ,quell1 are not all men mad at some time or another8 ,madly in love1 religiously mad1 patriotically insane1 and idiotic on the subject of clothes1 blood1 social precedence1 handsome persons1 money8 ,and is it not a sign of insanity when one man claims sanity for his own particular art8 ,painting1 ,i admit1 is-- ,what the devil do you know about painting8 ,quell roughly interposed2 you are a poet and1 pretending to love all creation1--altruism1 ,i think your sentimental philosophers call it1--have the conceit to believe you bear a star in your stomach when it is only a craving for rum4 ,i've been through the game4 ,he began to pace the sward1 chewing a blade of grass4 ,he spoke in hurried1 staccato phrases3-- ,why was ,i put away8 ,listen3 ,i tried to paint the sun1--for ,i hate your moon and its misty madness4 ,to put this glorious furnace on canvas is1 as you will acknowledge1 the task of a god4 ,it never came to me in my dreams1 so ,i wooed it by day4 ,above all1 ,i wished to express truth2 the sun is black4 ,think of an ebon sun fringed with its dazzling photosphere6 ,i tried to paint sun-rhythms1 the rhythms of the quivering sky1 which is never still even when it seems most immobile2 ,i tried to paint the rhythms of the atmosphere1 shivering as it is with chords of sunlight and chromatic scales as yet unpainted4 ,like ,oswald ,alving in ,ibsen's ,ghosts1 my last cry will be for 'the sun4' ,how did my friends act8 ,what did the critics say8 ,a black sun was too much for the world1 though astronomers have proven my theory correct4 ,the doctors swore ,i drank too much absinthe2 the critics said a species of optical madness had set in2 that ,i saw only the peripheral tints--,i was yellow and blue crazy4 ,perhaps ,i was1 perhaps ,i am4 ,so is the fellow crazy who invented wireless telegraphy2 so is the man off his base who invents a folding bird cage4 ,we are all crazy1 and the craziest gang are our doctors at the ,hermitage4 ,he jerked his thumb over his shoulder4 ,arved rolled his handsome head acquiescingly4 ,you poets and musicians are trying to compass the inane4 ,you are trying to duplicate your dreams1 dreams without a hint of the sun4 ,the painter at least copies or interprets real life2 while the composer dips his finger in the air1 making endless sound-scrolls--noises with long tails and whirligig decorations like foolish fireworks--though ,i think the art of the future will be pyrotechnics4 ,mad1 mad1 ,i tell you6 ,but whether mad or not matters little in our land of freedom1 where all men are born unequal1 where only the artists are sad4 ,they are useless beings1 openly derided1 and when one is caught napping1 doing something that offends church or ,state or society1 he is imprisoned4 ,mad1 you know6 ,no wonder anarchy is thriving1 no wonder every true artist is an anarch1 unavowed perhaps1 yet an anarch1 and an atheist4 ,not so fast6 interrupted ,arved4 ,i'm an anarchist1 but ,i don't believe in blowing up innocent policemen4 ,neither do you1 ,quell4 ,you wouldn't hurt a bartender6 ,give an anarchist plenty to drink1 and he sheds his anarchy like a shirt4 ,there are1 ,i have noticed1 three stages in the career of a revolutionist3 destruction1 instruction1 construction4 ,he begins the first at twenty1 at forty he is teaching1 at sixty he believes in society--especially if he has money in the bank4 ,quell regarded the speaker sourly4 ,you are a wonder1 ,arved4 ,you fly off on a wild tangent stimulated by the mere sound of a word4 ,who said anything about dynamite-anarchy8 ,there's another sort that men of brains--madmen if you will--believe and indirectly teach4 ,emerson was one1 though he hardly knew it4 ,thoreau realized it for him1 however4 ,don't you remember his stern rebuke when ,emerson visited him in ,concord jail3 ',henry1 why art thou here8' meekly inquired the mystic man4 ',ralph1 why art thou not here8' was the counter-question4 ,thoreau had brave nerves4 ,to live in peace in this malicious swamp of a world we must all wear iron masks until we are carted off to the domino-park2 pious people call it the cemetery4 ,now1 ,i'm going to sleep4 ,i'm tired of all this jabbering4 ,we are crazy for sure1 or else we wouldn't talk so much4 ,arved grumbled1 ,yes1 ,i've noticed that when a man in an asylum begins to suspect his keepers of madness he's mighty near lunacy himself4 ,you have crazy blue eyes1 ,arved6 ,where's that flask--,i'm dry again6 ,let's sleep4 ,they drained the bottle and were soon dozing1 while about them buzzed the noon in all its torrid splendour4 ,when they awoke it was solid night4 ,they yawned and damned the darkness1 which smelt like stale india-rubber1 so ,quell said4 ,they cursed life and the bitter taste in their mouths4 ,quell spoke of his thirst in words that startled the easy-going ,arved1 who confessed that if he could rid himself of the wool in his throat1 he would be comparatively happy4 ,then they stumbled along1 bumping into trees1 feeling with outstretched arms1 but finding nothing to guide them save the few thin stars in the torn foliage overhead4 ,without watches1 they could catch no idea of the hour4 ,the night was far spent1 declared ,arved2 he discovered that he was very hungry4 ,suddenly1 from the top of a steep1 slippery bank they pitched forward into the highroad4 ,arved put out his hand1 searching for his comrade4 ,quell1 ,quell6 he whispered4 ,quell rose darkly beside him1 a narrow lath of humanity4 ,locking arms1 both walked briskly until1 turning a sharp1 short corner1 they beheld1 all smiling in the night1 a summer garden1 well lighted and full of gay people1 chattering1 singing1 eating1 drinking--happy6 ,the two fugitives were stunned for a moment by such a joyful prospect4 ,tears came slowly to their eyes1 yet they never relaxed their gait4 ,arriving at an outlying table and seats1 they bethought themselves of their appearance1 of money1 of other disquieting prospects2 but1 sitting down1 they boldly called a waiter4 ,luckily it was a country girl who timidly took their order for beer and sandwiches4 ,and they drank eagerly1 gobbling the food as soon as it came1 ordering more so noisily that they attracted attention4 ,the beer made them brave4 ,as they poured down glass after glass1 reckless of the reckoning1 insolent to the servant1 they began wrangling over the subject that had possessed their waking hours4 ,look here1 ,quell6 ,arved exclaimed crustily1 you said ,i had crazy blue eyes4 ,what about your own red ones8 ,crazy6 ,why1 they glow now like a rat's4 ,poets may be music-mad1 drunk with tone-- ,and other things1 sneered the painter4 --but at least their work is great when it endures2 it does not fade away on rotten canvas4 ,now1 ,i know you ought to be in the ,brain-,college1 ,arved1 where your friends could take the little green car that goes by the grounds and see you on ,sunday afternoons if weather permits4 ,his accent seemed deliberately insulting to ,arved1 who1 however1 let it pass because of their mutual plight4 ,if they fell to fighting1 detection would ensue4 ,so he answered in placatory phrases3-- ,yes1 my friend1 we both belong to the same establishment1 for we are men of genius4 ,as the cat said to ,alice1 ',we must be mad or else we shouldn't be here4' ,i started to tell you why my people thought ,i had better take the cure4 ,i loved the moon too much and loathed sunlight4 ,if ,i had never tried to write lunar poetry--the tone quality of music combined with the pictorial evocation of painting--,i might be in the bosom of my family now instead of-- ,drinking with a crazy painter1 eh8 ,quell was very angry4 ,he shouted for drinks so rapidly that he alarmed the more prudent ,arved2 and as they were now the last guests1 the head waiter approached and curtly bade them leave4 ,in an instant he was dripping with beer thrown at him--glass and all--by the irate ,quell4 ,a whistle sounded1 two other waiters rushed out1 and the battle began4 ,arved1 aroused by the sight of his friend on the ground with three men hammering his head1 gave a roar like the trumpeting of an elephant4 ,a chair was smashed over a table1 and1 swinging one-half of it1 he made a formidable onslaught4 ,two of the waiters were knocked senseless and the leader's nose and teeth crushed in by the rude cudgel4 ,the morose moon started up1 a tragic hieroglyph in the passionless sky4 ,quell1 seeing its hated disk1 howled1 his face aflame with exaltation4 ,then he leaped like a hoarsely panting animal upon the poet2 a moment and they were in the grass clawing each other4 ,and the moon foamed down upon them its magnetic beams until darkness1 caused by a coarse blanket1 enveloped1 pinioned1 smothered them4 ,when the light shone again1 they were sitting in a wagon1 their legs tightly bound4444 ,they began singing4 ,the attendant interrupted3-- ,will you fellows keep quiet8 ,how can a man drive straight1 listening to your cackle8 ,arved touched his temple significantly and nudged ,quell4 ,another one of us4 ,another rebel of the moon6 ,shut up or ,i'll gag you both6 imperiously commanded the doctor1 as the wheels of the ambulance cut the pebbly road4 ,they were entering the asylum2 now they passed the porter's lodge4 ,in the jewelled light of a senescent moon1 his wife and little daughter gazed at them curiously1 without semblance of pity or fear4 ,then1 as if shot from the same vocal spring-board1 the voices of poet and painter merged into crazy rhythmatic chanting3-- ,rebels of the moon1 rebels of the moon6 ,we are1 we are1 the rebels of the moon6 ,and the great gates closed behind them with a brazen clangour--metal gates of the moon-rebels4 ,v ,,the ,,spiral ,,road ,there can be nothing good1 as we know it1 nor anything evil1 as we know it1 in the eye of the ,omnipresent and the ,omniscient4--,oriental ,proverb4 ,i ,,the ,,strand ,,of ,,dreams ,i must see him if only for a minute4 ,i can't go back to the city after coming so far4 ,please-- but the girl's face disappeared and the rickety door1 which had been opened on a chain1 was slammed after this imperative speech1 and ,gerald ,shannon found himself staring exasperatedly at its rusty exterior4 ,to have travelled on foot such a distance only to be turned away like a beggar enraged him4 ,nor was the prospect of returning over the path which had brought him to ,karospina's house a cheering one4 ,he turned and saw that a low1 creeping mist had obliterated every vestige of the trail across the swamp lands4 ,there was no sun1 and the twilight of a slow yellow day in late ,september would soon1 in complicity with the fog1 leave him totally adrift on this remote strand--he could hear the curving fall and hiss of the breakers1 the monotonous rumour of the sea4 ,so he was determined to face ,karospina1 even if he had to force his way into the house4 ,two hours earlier1 at the little railway station1 they had informed him that the road was easy flatland for the greater part of the way4 ,he had offered money for a horse or even a wheel2 but these were luxuries on this bleak1 poverty-ridden coast4 ,as there was no alternative1 ,gerald had walked rapidly since three o'clock4 ,and he had not been told the truth about the road2 where the oozing1 green1 unwholesome waters were not he stepped1 sometimes sinking over his ankles in the soft mud4 ,not a sign of humanity served him for comfort or compass4 ,he had been assured that if he kept his back to the sun he would reach his destination4 ,and he did1 but not without many misgivings4 ,it was the vision of a squat tower-like building1 almost hemmed in by a monster gas reservoir1 fantastic wooden galleries1 and the gigantic silhouettes of strange machinery1 that relieved his mind4 ,but this house and its surroundings soon repelled him4 ,his reception was the final disenchantment4 ,he played a lively tattoo with his blackthorn stick on the panels of the door4 ,for five minutes this continued1 interspersed with occasional loud calls for ,karospina4 ,at last the siege was raised4 ,after preliminary unboltings1 unbarrings1 and the rattling of the chain1 ,gerald saw before him a middle-aged man with a smooth face and closely shaven head1 who quietly asked his name and business4 ,i have a letter for you1 ,mr4 ,karospina--if you are that gentleman--and as ,i have put myself to much trouble in getting to you1 ,i think ,i deserve a little consideration4 ,a letter1 my worthy sir6 ,and for me8 ,who told you to come here8 ,how do you know my name8 ,this angered the young man4 ,it is from ,prince ,k4 ,the ,prince4 ,now are you satisfied8 he added1 as his questioner turned red and then paled as if the news were too startling for his nerves4 ,come in1 come in6 he cried4 ,mila1 ,mila1 here is a guest4 ,fetch tea to the laboratory4 ,he literally dragged ,shannon within doors and led him across a stone corridor to a large room1 but not before he had bolted and barred the entrance to his mysterious fortress4 ,seeing the other's look of quiet amusement1 he laughed himself3-- ,wolves1 my dear sir1 wolves1 human wolves1 prowl on the beach at night1 and while ,i have no treasures1 it is well to be on the safe side4 ,mila1 ,mila1 the tea1 the tea4 ,there was a passionate intensity in his utterance that attracted ,gerald from his survey of the chamber4 ,he saw that in the light ,karospina was a much older man than he had at first supposed4 ,but the broad shoulders1 the thick chest1 and short1 powerful figure and bullet head belied his years4 ,incredulously his visitor asked himself if this were the wonderful1 the celebrated ,karospina1 chemist1 revolutionary1 mystic1 nobleman1 and millionnaire4 ,a ,russian1 he knew that--yet he looked more like the monk one sees depicted on the canvases of the early ,flemish painters4 ,his high1 wide brow and deep-set1 dark eyes proclaimed the thinker2 and because of his physique1 he might have posed as a prize-fighter4 ,he took the letter and read it as the door opened and the girl came in with the tea4 ,she wore her hair braided in two big plaits which hung between her shoulders1 and her bold1 careless glance from eyes sea-blue made the ,irishman forget his host and the rigours of the afternoon4 ,a ,russian beauty1 with bare1 plump arms1 and dressed in peasant costume2 but--a patrician6 ,her fair skin and blond hair filled him with admiration4 ,what the devil6--he thought1 and came near saying it aloud4 ,my niece1 ,princess ,mila ,georgovics1 ,mr4 ,shannon4 ,gerald acknowledged the introduction with his deepest bow4 ,he was dazzled4 ,he had come to this dreary place to talk politics4 ,but now this was out of the question4 ,and he began explaining to the ,princess2 ,mila he had fancied was some slattern waiting on the old fanatic of a prince4 ,he told ,mila this in a few words1 and soon the pair laughed and chatted4 ,in the meantime ,karospina1 who had finished the letter1 began to pace the apartment4 ,apparently he had forgotten the others4 ,tea1 tea1 where's the tea8 he presently shouted4 ,as they drank1 he said3 ,the prince asks an impossibility1 ,mr4 ,shannon4 ,say to him1 no1 simply no2 he will understand1 and so will you1 ,i hope4 ,i'm done with all militant movements4 ,i'm converted to the peace party4 ,what's the use of liberty to people who won't know what to do with it when they get it8 ,tolstoy is right4 ,let the peasant be shown how to save his soul--that and a little to eat and drink and a roof are all he needs in this life4 ,gerald was startled4 ,he had expected to find an advanced leader of the ,bakounine type4 ,instead1 a man of the vegetarian order1--as he had heard them called1--who talked religion instead of dynamite2--and after all the bother of bringing the letter down to this remote country6 ,decidedly the princess was more enjoyable than a reformed anarchist4 ,she was gazing at him seriously now1 her society manner gone4 ,her nose1 rather large for the harmony of her face1 palpitated with eagerness4 ,evidently1 thought ,gerald1 the young lady is the real revolutionist in this curious household4 ,he also ventured to say so to her1 but she did not meet his smiling declaration4 ,her uncle1 irritated by his interrupted discourse1 exclaimed3-- ,never mind what the ,princess ,mila thinks1 ,mr4 ,shannon4 ,women change their minds4 ,the chief matter just now is that you cannot go away to-night4 ,you would lose your way1 perhaps be drowned4 ,can you sleep on a hard bed8 ,he was assured by ,gerald that1 if he had been turned away1 he would have slept in an outhouse1 even under one of those windmills he saw in such number on the strand4 ,karospina smiled4 ,hardly there--that is1 if you expected to awaken4 ,then he left the room1 saying that some one must see to the supper4 ,his niece burst into laughter4 ,gerald joined in4 ,he's always like that1 fussy1 nervous1 but with a heart of gold1 ,mr4--,mr4 ,shannon4 ,thank you4 ,it's an ,irish name1 is it not8 ,and you look like an ,irishman2 a soldier1 too1 ,i fancy6 ,gerald blushed4 ,a soldier in the cause of humanity1 he answered1 but no longer a hireling in the uniform of kings4 ,he felt so foolish after this brave bit of rhetoric that he kept his eyes on the floor4 ,in an instant she was at his side4 ,give me your hand--comrade6 she said1 with a peculiar intonation4 ,oh6 if you only knew how ,i longed to meet the right men4 ,uncle is a convert--no1 hardly a backslider2 but he swears by the regenerating process instead of violence4 ,formerly the cleverest living chemist1 he now--oh6 ,i shame to say it--he now indulges in firework displays instead of manufacturing bombs with which to execute tyrants4 ,she slowly dropped his hand and her eyes wore a clairvoyant expression4 ,he was astounded4 ,fireworks6 ,doesn't the prince hold by his old faith--he1 a pupil of ,bakounine1 ,netschajew1 and ,kropotkin8 ,just then the prince came in1 bearing a tray4 ,he seemed happy4 ,here1 sit down1 dear sir1 and partake of a few things4 ,we live so far from civilization that we seldom get a good chicken4 ,but eggs ,i can offer you1 eggs and ham1 cooked by me on an electric machine4 ,you have no servants8 ,gerald ventured4 ,not one4 ,i can't trust them near my--toys4 ,the princess plays ,chopin mazourkas after she makes the beds in the morning1 and in the afternoon she is my assistant in the laboratory4 ,again the young man looked about him4 ,if the room was a laboratory1 where were the retorts1 the oven1 the phials1 the jars1 the usual apparatus of a modern chemist8 ,he saw nothing1 except an old-fashioned electric fan and a few dusty books4 ,the fireworks--were those overgrown wheels and gaunt windmills and gas-house the secret of the prince's self-banishment to this dreary coast8 ,what dreams did he seek to incarnate on this strand1 in this queer tower1 locked away from the world with a charming princess--a fairy princess whose heart beat with love for the oppressed1 in whose hand he might some time see the blazing torch of freedom8 ,he1 himself1 was enveloped by the hypnotism of the place4 ,mila spoke3-- ,i fear ,i must leave you4 ,i am studying to-night and--,i go early to rest4 ,pray dine as well as you can1 with such a chef4 ,she smiled mischievously at her uncle1 courtesied in peasant fashion to the bewildered ,gerald1 who put out his hand1 fain to touch hers1 and disappeared4 ,the prince gazed inquiringly at the young man4 ,revolutionists soon become friends1 do they not8 ,the ,princess ,mila is part ,russian1 part ,roumanian1--my sister married a ,roumanian1--hence her implacable political attitude4 ,i can't lead her back to civilized thinking4 ,she sees war in the moon1 sun1 and stars4 ,and ,i--,i have forsworn violence4 ,ah6 if ,i could only make the prince change4 ,bakounine's death had no effect2 ,netschajew's fate did not move him2 nor was ,illowski's mad attempt to burn down ,paris with his incendiary symphony an example to our prince that those who take up the sword perish by the sword4 ,ah1 ,tolstoy1 dear ,leon ,nikolaievitch1 you showed me the true way to master the world by love and not by hate6 ,until ,i read--but there1 it's late4 ,come with me to your room4 ,you may smoke and sleep when you will4 ,in the morning ,i will show you my--toys4 ,they shook hands formally and parted4 ,his bed was hard1 and his room cheerless1 but anything1 even a haymow1 rather than walking back to the station4 ,after he went to his bed1 he rehearsed the day's doings from the three hours' ride in the train to the tower4 ,how weary he was6 ,hark--some one played the piano6 ,a ,chopin mazourka6 ,it was the princess4 ,mila6 ,how lovely her touch6444 ,mila6 ,what a lovely name6 ,a sleeping princess4 ,a prince with such a sleepy head4 ,how the girl could play 444 along the spiral road he saw the music glow in enigmatic figures of fire4444 ,,ii ,,the ,,panacea ,,of ,,coruscation ,he seemed to be uttering her name when he awoke4 ,it was daylight2 the sun poured its rays over his face1 and he asked himself how he could have fallen asleep leaving the lamp burning on the table near his bed4 ,he must have slept long1 for he felt rested1 cheerful--happy4 ,as he dressed he speculated whether it was the sunshine1 or the prospect of going back to life1 or--or--,did he wish to return so soon8 ,he wondered what ,mila was doing4 ,then he went into the stone corridor and coughed as a hint that he was up4 ,not a sound but the persistent fall at a distance of some heavy metallic substance4 ,it must be ,karospina in his workshop1 at his rockets1 pinwheels1 torpedoes1 and firecrackers4 ,what a singular change in a bloodthirsty revolutionist4 ,and how childish6 ,had he squandered his millions on futile experimentings8 ,what his object1 what his scheme1 for the amelioration of mankind's woes8 ,gerald's stomach warned him that coffee and rolls were far dearer to him than the downfall of tyranny's bastions1 and impatiently he began whistling4 ,the rhythmic thud never ceased4 ,he noticed an open door at the back of the house1 and he went out1 his long legs carrying him about the yard1 toward the beach4 ,the air was glorious1 a soft breeze blowing landward from the ocean4 ,he almost forgot his hunger in the face of such a spectacle4 ,the breakers were racing in1 and after crumbling1 they scudded1 a film of green1 crested by cottony white1 across the hard sand to the young man's feet4 ,he felt exhilarated4 ,and his hunger returned4 ,then ,mila's voice sounded near him4 ,she carried a basket and fairly ran in her eagerness4 ,mr4 ,shannon1 ,mr4 ,shannon1 good ,prince ,gerald-- he was amazed2 where could she have heard his ,christian name8--your breakfast4 ,wait--don't swim the seas to ,new ,york for it4 ,here it is4 ,she opened the basket and handed him a jug of coffee and showed him the rolls inside4 ,without the slightest embarrassment he thanked her and drank his coffee1 walking2 he ate the bread1 and felt1 as he expressed it1 like leading a forlorn hope4 ,they went on1 the cutting sunshine and sparkling breeze alluring them to vague distances4 ,it was long after midday when they marched back at a slower pace1 ,gerald swinging the basket like a light-hearted boy1 instead of the desperado he fancied himself4 ,entering the house1 ,mila hunted up some cold meat1 and with fresh tea and stale bread they were contented4 ,the formidable pyrotechnist did not appear1 and so the young people enjoyed the day in each other's company4 ,she conducted him like a river through the lands of sociology1 ,dostoewsky1 and ,chopin4 ,she played1 but made him sit in the hall1 for the piano was in her private room4 ,and then they began to exchange confidences4 ,it was dusk before the prince returned1 in the attire of a workingman1 his face and hands covered with soot and grease4 ,a hard day's labour1 he said1 and did not seem surprised to see ,shannon4 ,after supper he asked ,gerald if he would smoke a pipe with him in his laboratory4 ,mila must have bored him enough by this time6 ,they lighted their pipes2 but ,mila refused to be sent away4 ,she sat down beside her uncle and put her elbows on the table--white1 strong arms she had1 and ,gerald only took his eyes from their pleasing contemplation to lift them to hers4 ,he was fast losing what little prudence he had2 he was a ,celt1 and he felt that he had known ,mila for a century4 ,young man1 said ,prince ,karospina1 sharply1 you have the message ,i gave you last night6 ,well--and you will say no1 to my beloved friend ,k41 without knowing why4 ,and you will think that you have been dealing with a man whose hard head has turned to the mush of human kindness1--an altruist4 ,ah6 ,i know how you fellows despise the word4 ,but what have ,kropotkin1 ,elise ,reclus1 ,jean ,grave1 or the rest accomplished8 ,to build up1 not to tear down1 should be the object of the scientific anarch4 ,stop6 ,you need not say the earth has to be levelled and ploughed before sowing the seed4 ,that suits turnip fields1 not the garden of humanity4 ,educate the downtrodden into liberty1 is my message1 not the slaughtering of monarchs4 ,how am ,i going to go about it8 ,ah6 that's my affair1 my dear sir4 ,after ,i read a certain book by ,tolstoy1 ,i realized that art was as potent an agent for mischief as the knout4 ,music--music is rooted in sex2 it works miracles of evil-- ,now1 uncle1 ,i won't hear a word against ,chopin1 said ,mila1 looking toward ,gerald for approval4 ,music1 ,mila1 in the hands of evil men is an instrument dangerous to religion1 to civilization4 ,what of ,illowski and his crazy attack on ,paris and ,st4 ,petersburg8 ,you remember1 ,shannon6 ,leave ,wagner out of the question--there is no fusion of the arts in his music drama--only bad verse1 foolish librettos1 dealing with monsters and gods1 and indifferent scene-painting4 ,moreover1 this new music is not understood by the world4 ,even if the whole of mankind could be assembled on the roof of the world and at a preconcerted signal made to howl the ,marseillaise1 it would not be educated to the heights ,i imagine4 ,stage plays--,shakespeare has no message for our days2 ,ibsen is an anarchist--he believes in placing the torpedo under the social ark4 ,painting--it is an affair for state galleries and the cabinets of wealthy amateurs4 ,literature is a dead art--every one writes and reads and no one understands4 ,religion6 ,ah6 ,yes1 religion2 the world will be a blackened cinder or cometary gas before the love of ,god is stamped from its heart4 ,but religion and art must go hand in hand4 ,divorced1 art has fallen into the ,slough of ,despond2 else has been transformed into an acrid poison wherewith men's souls are destroyed as if by a virulent absinthe4 ,united with religion1 art is purified4 ,all art sprang from religion4 ,all great art1 from a ,greek statue to a ,gothic cathedral1 from a ,bach fugue to ,michael ,angelo1 was religious4 ,therefore1 if we are to reach the hearts of the people1 we must make art the handmaid of religion4 ,he stopped for breath4 ,gerald interposed3-- ,but1 dear prince1 you say 'art4' ,what art--painting1 sculpture1 architecture1 music1 poetry1 drama--8 ,one art1 harshly cried the now excited man1 as he pounded the table with his hard fist4 ,one art1 my art1 the fusion of all the arts4 ,i1 ,prince ,igorovitch ,karospina1 tell you that ,i have discovered the secret of the arts never dreamed of by ,wagner and his futile1 painted music on a painted stage2 ,i have gone1 not to art1 but to nature--colour1 fire1 the elements4 ,the eye is keener than the ear1 vision is easier comprehended than tone4 ,ah6 ,i have you interested at last4 ,he began walking as if to overtake a missing idea4 ,his niece watched him cynically4 ,i fear you are boring ,mr4 ,shannon1 she said in her most birdlike accents4 ,her uncle turned on her4 ,i don't care if ,i am4 ,go to bed6 ,i am nearing the climax of a lifetime1 and ,i feel that ,i must talk to a sympathetic ear4 ,you are not bored1 dear friend4 ,i have pondered this matter for more than thirty years4 ,i have studied all the arts--painting particularly2 and with colour1 with colourful design ,i mean to teach mankind the great lessons of the masters and of religion4 ,ah1 you will exhibit in large halls1 panoramic pictures1 ,i suppose1 interrupted ,shannon4 ,nothing of the sort1 was the testy reply4 ,for thousands of years the world has been gazing upon dead stones and canvases1 reading dead words4 ,dead--all1 ,i tell you1 all of these arts4 ,and painting is only in two dimensions--a poor copy of nature4 ,the theatre has its possibilities1 but is too restricted in space4 ,music is alive4 ,it moves2 but its message is not articulate to all4 ,i want an art that will be understood and admired at a glance by the world from pole to pole4 ,i want an art that will live and move and tell a noble tale4 ,i want an art that will appeal to the eye by its colouring and the soul by its beautiful designs4 ,where is that legend-laden art8 ,hitherto it has not existed4 ,i have found it4 ,i have tracked it down until ,i am the master who by a touch can liberate elemental forces1 which will not destroy1 like those of ,illowski's1 but will elevate the soul and make mankind one great nation1 one loving brotherhood4 ,ah6 to open once more those doors of faith closed by the imperious dogmas of science--open them upon a lovely land of mystery4 ,mankind must have mystery4 ,and beyond each mystery lies another4 ,this will be our new religion4 ,gerald had caught the enthusiasm of this swelling prologue and rose1 his face alight with curiosity4 ,and that art is--is--8 he stammered4 ,that art is--pyrotechny4 ,it was too much for the young man's nerves1 and he fell back in his chair1 purple with suppressed laughter4 ,angrily darting at him and catching his left shoulder in a vicelike grip1 ,karospina growled3 ,you fool1 how dare you mock something you know nothing of8 ,he shook his guest roughly4 ,uncle1 uncle1 be patient6 ,tell ,mr4 ,shannon1 and he1 too1 will become a believer4 ,i believe in you4 ,i believe in him1 ,mr4 ,shannon4 ,don't sneer6 ,tell him1 uncle4 ,mila's words1 almost imploring in their tone1 calmed the infuriated inventor1 who left the room4 ,he rentered in a moment1 his head dripping1 and he was grinning broadly4 ,whenever ,i encounter a refractory pattern in my fireworks--as you call them--,i am compelled to throw a bucket of water over it to quench its too ardent spirits4 ,i have just done the same to my own head1 dear ,mr4 ,shannon1 and ,i ask your pardon for my rudeness4 ,get some fresh tea1 ,mila1 strong tea1 ,mila4 ,pipes were relighted and the conversation resumed4 ,i forgot in my obsession1 in what ,jacob ,boehme calls 'the shudder of divine excitement1' that ,i was talking to one of the uninitiated4 ,i suppose you think by pyrotechny ,i mean the old-fashioned methods of set pieces1 ghastly portraits in fire1 big1 spouting wheels1 rockets1 war scenes from contemporary history1 seaside stuff1 badly done--and flowery squibs4 ,my boy1 all that1 still admired by our country cousins1 is the very infancy of my art4 ,in ,china1 where nearly everything was invented ages ago1 in ,china ,i learned the first principles1 also the possibilities of the art of fireworks2 yes1 call it by its humble title4 ,in ,china ,i have seen surprising things at night4 ,pagodas blown across the sky1 an army of elephants in pursuit1 and all bathed in the most divine hues imaginable4 ,but their art suffers from convention4 ,they accomplish miracles considering the medium they work in--largely gunpowder4 ,and their art has no meaning1 no message1 no moral principle1 no soul4 ,years ago ,i discovered all the aids necessary to the pyrotechnist4 ,i am not a chemist for nothing4 ,if ,i can paint a fair imitation of a ,claude ,monet on canvas1 ,i can also produce for you a colourless gas which1 when handled by a virtuoso1 produces astonishing illusions4 ,in the open air1 against the dark background of the horizon1 ,i can show you the luminous dots planewise of the ,impressionists2 or ,i can give you the broad1 sabrelike brushwork of ,velasquez1 or the imperial tintings of ,titian4 ,i can paint pictures on the sky4 ,i can produce blazing symphonies4 ,i will prove to you that colour is also music4 ,this sounds as if ,i were a victim to that lesion of the brain called 'coloured-audition4' ,perhaps6 ,not ,helmholtz or ,chevreul can tell me anything new in the science of optics4 ,i am the possessor of the rainbow secrets--for somewhere in ,iceland1 a runic legend runs1 there is a region vast as night1 where all the rainbows--worn out or to be used--drift about in their vapoury limbo4 ,i have the key to this land of dreams4 ,over the earth ,i shall float my rainbows of art like a flock of angels4 ,with them ,i propose to dazzle the eyes of mankind1 to arouse sleeping souls4 ,from the chords of the combined arts ,i shall extort nobler cadences1 nobler rhythms1 for men to live by1 for men to die for6 ,shannon was impressed4 ,through the smoke of his host's discourse he discovered genuine fire4 ,the philosopher took his hand and led him to the window4 ,stand there a moment6 he adjured4 ,mila joined him and after turning the lamp to a pin-head of light1 their shoulders touching--for the window was narrow--they peered into the night4 ,they were on the side of the water4 ,suddenly ,gerald exclaimed3-- ,what's that light out at sea--far out8 ,it looks like the moon6 ,it is the sun1 coolly replied his companion4 ,they saw arise from the waters a majestic1 glowing sphere of light1 apparently the size of the sun4 ,it flooded the country with its glare1 and after sailing nearly in front of the house it shrank into a scarlet cross not larger than a man's hand4 ,then in a shower of sparks it ceased1 its absence making the blackness almost corporeal4 ,instinctively the hands of the two indulged in a long pressure1 and ,mila quickly adjusted the lamp4 ,but ,gerald still stood at the window a prey to astonishment1 terror1 stupefaction4 ,karospina entered4 ,his face was slightly flushed and in his eyes there burned the sombre fire of the fanatic4 ,triumphantly he regarded his young friend4 ,that was only a little superfluous gas--nothing ,i cared to show you4 ,read the newspapers to-morrow1 and you will learn that a big meteor burst off the north coast the night before1 and fell into the sea4 ,then he moved closer and whispered3-- ,the time is at hand4 ,within three weeks--not later than the middle of ,october--,i shall make my first public test4 ',thus saith the ,lord ,god to the mountains and to the hills1 to the rivers and to the valleys3 ,behold1 ,i1 even ,i1 will bring a sword upon you1 and ,i will destroy your high places4' ,his voice rose in passion1 his face worked in anger1 and he shook his clenched fists at an imaginary universe4 ,so this man of peace was a destroyer1 after all6 ,gerald aroused him4 ,again he asked pardon4 ,mila was nowhere to be seen1 and with a sinking at the heart new to his buoyant temperament1 ,gerald bade the magician good night4 ,it was arranged that he would leave the next day1 for1 like ,milton1 he was haunted by the ghost of a linen decency4 ,but that night he did not sleep1 and no sound of music came to his ears from ,mila's chamber4 ,once he tried to open his window4 ,it was nailed down4 ,a gray day greeted his tired eyes4 ,in an hour he was bidding his friends good-by and thanking them for their hospitality4 ,he had hoped that ,mila would accompany him a few steps on his long journey1 but she made no sign beyond a despairing look at her uncle1 who was surly1 as if he had felt the reaction from too prolonged a debauch of the spirit4 ,gerald lit his pipe1 kissed the hand of ,mila with emphasis1 and parted from them4 ,he had not gone a hundred yards before he heard soft footsteps tracking him4 ,he turned and was disappointed to see that it was only ,karospina1 who came up to him1 breathing heavily1 and in his catlike eyes the fixed expression of monomania4 ,he stuttered1 waving his arms aloft4 ,the time is at hand and the end of all things shall be accomplished4 ,you shall return for the great night4 ,you shall hear of it in the world4 ,tell ,k4 that ,i said no6 ,he must be with us at the transfiguration of all things1 when mankind shall go up the spiral road of perfection4 ,gerald ,shannon fairly ran to escape knowing more about the universal panacea4 ,and when he turned for the last time the sea and tower and man were blotted out by wavering mists of silver4 ,,iii ,,the ,,fiery ,,chariot ,the young man soon heard of ,karospina's project4 ,a week before the event the newspapers began describing the experiments of the new ,russian wonder-worker1 but treated the matter with calm journalistic obliviousness to any but its most superficial aspects4 ,a scientific pyrotechnist was a novelty1 particularly as the experimentings were to be given with the aid of a newly discovered gas4 ,strange rumours of human levitations1 of flying machines seen after dark at unearthly heights1 were printed4 ,this millionnaire1 who had expended fortunes in trying to accomplish what ,maxim and ,langley had failed in achieving1 was a good peg upon which to hang thrilling gossip4 ,he promised to convince the doubting ones that at last man would come into the empire of the air1 and by means of fireworks4 ,in searching carefully all the published reports ,gerald was relieved not to encounter the name of ,mila4 ,that celebrated afternoon he found himself1 after the distressingly crowded cars1 in company with many thousands1 all clamouring and jostling on the road to the tower4 ,this time there were vehicles and horses1 though not in any degree commensurate with the crowd2 but the high tax imposed by the speculators gave him an opportunity of securing a seat with a few others in a carriage drawn by four horses4 ,gingerly they made their way down the narrow road--time was not gained1 for the packed mass of humans refused to separate4 ,fuming at the delay1 he was forced to console himself with smoking and listening to the stories told of ,karospina and his miracles4 ,they were exaggerated4 ,karospina here1 ,karospina there--the name of this modern magician was hummed everywhere in the brisk ,october air4 ,a little man who occupied the seat with ,shannon informed him that he knew some one who had worked for ,karospina4 ,he declared that it was no uncommon sight for the conjurer--he was usually called by that name--to float like a furled flag over his house when the sun had set4 ,also he had been seen driving in the sky a span of three fiery horses in a fiery chariot across the waters of the bay1 while sitting by his side was the star-crowned ,woman of the ,apocalypse clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet4 ,gerald held his counsel2 but the grandeur of the spectacle he had witnessed still shook his soul--if he had not been the victim of a hallucination6 ,the journey seemed endless4 ,at last the strand came into view with the squat tower1 the rusting machinery1 and the reservoir back of the house4 ,there were1 however1 changes in the scene4 ,within a quarter of a mile of the beach tents were set and booths erected4 ,seemingly all the city had rushed to this place1 and the plain1 with its swampy surfaces1 was dotted by masses of noisy men and women4 ,gerald1 finding that approach to the house was impossible from the land side1 made a wide detour1 and on reaching the shore he was gratified to find it empty4 ,the local constabulary1 powerless to fight off the mob near the house1 had devoted their energies to clearing the space about the gas retorts4 ,after much bother1 and only by telling his name1 did he pass the police cordon4 ,once inside1 he rushed to the back door and found1 oh6 great luck--,mila4 ,dressed in white1 to his taste she was angelic4 ,he had great difficulty in keeping his arms pinioned to his side2 but his eyes shone with the truth beating at the bars of his bosom1 and ,mila knew it4 ,he felt this and was light-headed in his happiness4 ,they greeted4 ,mila's face wore a serious expression4 ,i'm very glad you have come down4 ,i think uncle will be glad also4 ,i am happy to see you again2 ,i have missed you these past weeks4 ,but my happiness is nothing just now1 ,gerald6 ,he started4 ,my uncle1 you must speak with him4 ,from brooding so much over the ,holy ,scriptures1 and the natural excitement of his discoveries--they are so extraordinary1 dear friend1 that he means always to keep them to himself1 for he rightly believes that the governments of the world would employ them for wicked purposes1 war1 the destruction of weaker nations--he has become overwrought4 ,you may not know it1 he has a very strong1 sane head on his shoulders2 but this scheme for lifting up the masses1 ,i suspect1 may upset his own equilibrium4 ,and his constant study of the ,apocalypse and the ,hebraic revelations--it has filled him with strange notions4 ,understand me3 a man who can swim in the air like a fish in the sea is apt to become unstrung4 ,he has begun to identify himself with the prophets4 ,he insists on showing biblical pictures1--worse still1 appearing in them himself4 ,how 'appearing in them'8 asked ,gerald1 wonderingly4 ,in actual person4 ,i1 too1 have promised to go with him4 ,in a transparency of fire1 you mean8 ,isn't it dangerous8 ,she hung her head4 ,no1 in mid air1 in a fiery chariot1 she murmured4 ,the ,woman of the ,apocalypse6 he cried4 ,oh6 ,princess ,mila1 dearest ,mila ,georgovics1 promise me that you will not risk such a crazy experiment4 ,gerald pressed his fingers to his throbbing temples4 ,it is no experiment at all1 she said1 in almost inaudible tones2 last night we flew over the house4 ,he stared at her1 his hands trembling1 and no longer able to play the incredulous4 ,but1 dear friend1 ,i fear one other thing2 the gas which uncle has discovered is so tenuous that it is a million times lighter than air2 but it is ever at a terrible tension--,i mean it is dangerous if not carefully treated4 ,last summer1 one afternoon1 a valve broke and a large quantity escaped from the reservoir1 luckily on the ocean side4 ,it caused a storm and water-spouts1 and destroyed a few vessels4 ,the coruscating gas creates a vacuum into which the air rushes with incredible velocity4 ,so promise me that while we are flying you will stay with the police at the gas machines and keep off the crowd4 ,promise6 ,but ,i shan't permit you to go up with this renegade to the revolutionary cause-- he began impetuously4 ,she put warning fingers to her lips4 ,in the white flowing robes of an antique priest1 ,karospina came out to them and took ,gerald by the hand4 ,he was abstracted and haggard1 and his eyes glared about him4 ,he chanted in a monotone3-- ,the time is at hand4 ,soon you will see the ,angels of the ,seals4 ,i shall show the multitude ,death on the ,pale ,horse and the vision of ,ezekiel4 ,and you shall behold the star called ,wormwood1 the great star of the third angel1 which shall fall like a burning lamp upon the waters and turn them bitter4 ,and at the last you will see the chariot of ,elijah caught up to heaven in a fiery whirlwind4 ,in it will be seated the ,princess ,mila--we1 the conquerors of the wicked world4 ,yes1 but only as an image1 an illusion1 ejaculated the unhappy lover1 not in reality4 ,as she is1 imperiously answered ,karospina1 and seizing ,mila by the arm1 said1 ,come6 ,she threw a kiss to ,gerald and in her eyes were tears4 ,he saw them and could have wept himself4 ,he followed the sacrificial pair as far as the reservoir1 muttering warnings in which were mixed the fates of ,phaethon and ,simon ,magus--that heretic who mimicked the miracles of the apostles4 99 99 99 99 99 ,it was now dark2 the order to extinguish all lights on the moor had been obeyed4 ,only a panting sound as if from a wilderness of frightened animals betrayed the presence of thousands4 ,as long as the sun shone there had been a babel of sound2 at the disappearance of our parent planet1 a hushed awe had fallen with the night4 ,gone the rude joking and wrangling1 the crying of children1 and the shrill laughter of the women4 ,a bitter breeze swept across from the waters1 and the stars were mere twinkling points4 ,then from the vault of heaven darted a ribbon of emerald fire4 ,it became a luminous spiral when it touched the sea of glass1 which was like unto a floor of crystal4 ,this was the sign of ,karospina's undertaking1 his symbol of the road to moral perfection4 ,gerald recalled ,whistler's pyrotechnical extravaganzas4 ,following this came a pale moon which emerged from the north2 a second1 a third1 a fourth1 started up from the points of the compass1 and after wabbling in the wind like gigantic balloons1 merged overhead in an indescribable disk which assumed the features of ,michael ,angelo's ,moses4 ,here is a new technique1 indeed1 thought ,gerald2 yet he could not detect its moral values4 ,a golden landscape was projected on land and sea4 ,a central aisle of waters1 paved by the golden rays of a lyric sun high overhead1 was embellished on either side by the marmoreal splendours of stately palaces4 ,an ilex inclined its graceful head to its liquid image2 men moved the blocks that made famous in the mouth of the world ,queen ,dido's ,carthage4 ,clouds of pearl-coloured smoke encircled the enchanting picture4 ,and the galleys came and went in this symphonic1 glittering spectacle4 ,turner would have died of envy1 said ,gerald aloud4 ,there was a remarkable vibration of life1 not as he had seen it in mechanical bioscopes1 but the vivid life of earth and sunshine4 ,the scenes that succeeded were many3 episodes from profane and sacred histories2 simulacra of the great saints4 ,a war between giants and pygmies was shown with all its accompanying horrors4 ,the firmament dripped crimson4 ,the four cryptic creatures of ,ezekiel's vision came out of the north1 a great cloud of infolding fire and the colour was amber4 ,a cyclopean and dazzling staircase thronged by moving angelic shapes1 harping mute harps1 stretched from sea to sky1 melting into the milky way like the tail of a starry serpent4 ,followed the opening of the dread prophetic seals2 but1 after an angel had descended from heaven1 his face as the sun and at his feet pillars of fire1 the people1 prostrate like stalks of corn beaten by a tempest1 worshipped in fear4 ,these things were supernatural4 ,the heavens were displaying the glory of ,god4 ,not knowing whether the signs in the skies might be construed as blasphemous1 and lost in fathomless admiration for the marvellous power of the wizard1 ,gerald sought to get closer to ,karospina and ,mila4 ,but wedged in by uniformed men1 and the darkness thick as an ,egyptian plague1 he despairingly awaited the apotheosis4 ,his eyes were sated by the miracles of harmonies--noiseless harmonies4 ,it was a new art1 and one for the peoples of the earth4 ,never had the hues of the universe been so assembled1 grouped1 and modulated4 ,and the human eye1 adapting itself to the new synthesis of arabesque and rhythm1 evoked order and symbolism from these novel chords of colour4 ,there were solemn mountains of opalescent fire which burst and faded into flaming colonnades1 and in an enchanting turquoise effervescence became starry spears and scimiters and sparkling shields1 and finally the whole mass would reunite and evaporate into brilliant violet auroras or seven-tailed1 vermilion-coloured comets4 ,there were gleaming rainbows of unknown tints--strange scales of chromatic pigments2 a fiery snow without wind2 and once a sun1 twice the size of our own1 fell into the ocean2 and ,gerald could have sworn that he felt a wave of heated air as if from a furnace2 that he heard a seething sound1 as if white-hot metal had come in contact with icy water4 ,consumed by anxiety for ,mila's safety1 he wished that these soundless girandoles1 this apocalypse of architectural fire and weaving flame1 would end4 ,he had not long to wait4 ,a shrewd hissing apprised him that something unusual was about to occur4 ,like the flight of a great rocket a black object quickly mounted to the zenith4 ,it did not become visible for several seconds2 ,gerald's nerves crisped with apprehension4 ,the apparition was an incandescent chariot2 in it sat ,karospina1 and beside him--oh6 the agony of her lover--,mila ,georgovics4 ,as the fiery horses swooped down1 he could see her face in a radiant nimbus of meteors1 which encircled the equipage4 ,karospina proudly directed its course over the azure route1 and once he passed ,gerald at a dangerously low curve earthward1 shouting3-- ,the ,spiral6 ,the ,spiral6 ,it was his last utterance2 possibly through some flaw in the mechanism1 the chariot zig-zagged and then drove straight upon the reservoir4 ,to the reverberation of smashed steel and blinding fulguration the big sphere was split open and ,mila with ,karospina vanished in the nocturnal gulf4 ,gerald1 stunned by the catastrophe1 threw himself down1 expecting a mighty explosion2 the ebon darkness was appalling after the scintillating rain of fire4 ,but the liberated gas in the guise of an elongated cloud had rushed seaward1 and there gathering density and strength1 assumed the shape of a terrific funnel1 an inky spiral1 its gyrating sides streaked with intermittent flashes4 ,its volcanic roaring and rapid return to land was a signal for vain flight--the miserable lover knew it to be the flamboyant ether of the pyromaniac transformed into a trumpeting tornado4 ,and he hoped that it would not spare him1 as this phantasm twirled and ululated in the heavens1 a grim portent of the iron wrath of the ,almighty4 ,in a twinkling it had passed him1 high in the dome of heaven1 only to erase in a fabulous blast the moaning multitude4 ,and prone upon the strand between the stormy waters and the field of muddy dead1 ,gerald ,shannon prayed for a second cataclysm which might bring oblivion to him alone4 ,,vi ,a ,,mock ,,sun ,where are the sins of yester-year8 ,i ,the grating of the carriage wheels awoke her from the dream which had lightly brushed away the night and the vision of the ,arc de ,triomphe--looming into the mystery of sky and stars1 its monumental flanks sprawling across the ,place de l'toile4 ,she heard her name called by ,mrs4 ,sheldam as their coachman guided his horses through the gateway of the ,princesse de ,lancovani's palace4 ,now1 ,ermentrude6 ,wake up1 dear2 we are there1 said ,mrs4 ,sheldam1 in her kind1 drawling tones4 ,mr4 ,sheldam sighed and threw away the unlighted cigar he had bitten during the ride along the ,champs lyses4 ,whatever the evening meant for his wife and niece1 he saw little entertainment in store for himself2 he did not speak ,french very well1 he disliked music and tall talk2 all together he wished himself at the ,grand ,htel1 where he would be sure to meet some jolly ,americans4 ,their carriage had halted in front of a spacious marble stairway1 lined on either side with palms1 and though it was a ,june night1 the glass doors were closed4 ,ermentrude's heart was in her throat1 not because of the splendour1 to which she was accustomed2 but it was to be her first meeting with a noble dame1 whose name was historic1 at whose feet the poets of the ,second ,empire had prostrated themselves1 passionately plucking their lyres2 the friend of ,liszt1 ,wagner1 ,berlioz1 of ,manet1 ,degas1 ,monet2 the new school--this wonderful old woman knew them all1 from ,goncourt and ,flaubert to ,daudet and ,maupassant4 ,had she not1 ,ermentrude remembered as she divested herself of her cloak1 sent a famous romancer out of the house because he spoke slightingly of the ,pope8 ,had she not cut the emperor dead when she saw him with a lady not his empress8 ,what a night this would be in the ,american girl's orderly existence6 ,and he was to be there1 he had promised the princess4 ,her heart was overflowing when she was graciously received by the great lady who stood in the centre of a group at the back of the drawing-room--a lofty apartment in white and gold1 the panels painted by ,baudry1 the furniture purest ,empire4 ,she noted the height and majestic bearing of this cousin of kings1 noted the aquiline nose drooped over a contracted mouth--which could assume most winning curves1 withal shaded by suspicious down1 that echoed in hue her inky eyebrows4 ,the eyes of the princess were small and green and her glance penetrating4 ,her white hair rolled imperially from a high1 narrow forehead4 ,ermentrude bore herself with the utmost composure4 ,she adored the ,old ,world1 adored genius1 but after all she was an ,adams of ,new ,hampshire1 her sister the wife of a former ambassador4 ,it was more curiosity than gaucherie that prompted her to hold the hand offered her and scrutinize the features as if to evoke from the significant1 etched wrinkles the tremendous past of this hostess4 ,the princess was pleased4 ,ah1 ,miss ,adams1 she said1 in idiomatic ,english1 you have candid eyes4 ,you make me feel like telling stories when you gaze at me so appealingly4 ,don't be shocked--the girl had coloured--perhaps ,i shall1 after a while4 ,mr4 ,sheldam had slipped into a corner behind a very broad table and under the shaded lamps examined some engravings4 ,mrs4 ,sheldam talked in hesitating ,french to the ,marquis de ,potachre1 an old fellow of venerable and burlesque appearance4 ,his fierce little white mustaches were curled ceilingward1 but his voice was as timid as honey4 ,he flourished his wizened hand toward ,miss ,adams4 ,charming6 ,delightful6 ,she has something ,english in her insouciant pose1 and is wholly ,american in her cerebral quality4 ,and what colouring1 what gorgeous brown hair6 ,what a race1 madame1 is yours6 ,mrs4 ,sheldam began to explain that the ,adams stock was famous1 but the marquis did not heed her4 ,he peered at her niece through a gold-rimmed monocle4 ,the princess had left the group near the table and with two young men slowly moved down the salon4 ,miss ,adams was immediately surrounded by some antiquated gentlemen wearing orders1 who paid her compliments in the manner of the eighteenth century4 ,she answered them with composure1 for she was sure of her ,french1 sure of herself--the princess had not annihilated her4 ,her aunt1 accompanied by the marquis1 crossed to her1 and the old nobleman amused her with his saturnine remarks4 ,time was1 he said1 when one met here the cream of ,parisian wit and fashion3 the great ,flaubert1 a noisy fellow at times1 ,i vow2 ,dumas fils2 ,cabanel1 ,grme1 ,duran2 ever-winning ,carolus--ah1 what men6 ,now we get ,polish pianists1 crazy ,belgians1 anarchistic poets1 and ,neo-impressionists4 ,i have warned the princess again and again4 ,bcasse6 interrupted the lady herself4 ,monsieur ,rajewski has consented to play a ,chopin nocturne4 ,and here are my two painters1 ,miss ,adams--,messieurs ,bla and ,maugre4 ,they hate each other like the ,jesuits and ,jansenists of the good old days of ,pascal4 ,she likes to display her learning1 grumbled the marquis to ,mrs4 ,sheldam4 ,that younger man1 ,bla1 swears by divided tones2 his neighbour1 ,maugre1 paints in dots4 ,one is always to be recognized a half-mile away by his vibrating waterscapes--he calls them ,symphonies of the ,wet2 the other goes in for turkeys in the grass1 fowls that are cobalt-blue daubs1 with grass a scarlet4 ,it's awful on the optic nerves4 ,pointillisme1 ,maugre names his stuff4 ,now1 give me ,corot-- ,hush1 hush6 came in energetic sibilants from the princess1 who rapped with her ,japanese walking-stick for silence4 ,mr4 ,sheldam woke up and fumbled the pictures as ,rajewski1 slowly bending his gold-dust aureole until it almost grazed the keyboard1 began with deliberate accents a nocturne4 ,miss ,adams knew his playing well1 but its poetry was not for her this evening2 rather did the veiled tones of the instrument form a misty background to the human tableau4 ,so must ,chopin have woven his magic last century1 and in a salon like this--the wax candles burning with majestic steadiness in the sculptured sconces2 the huge fireplace1 monumental in design1 with its dull brass garnishing2 the subdued richness of the decoration into which fitted1 as figures in a frame1 the various guests4 ,even the waxed floor seemed to take on new reverberations as the pianoforte sounded the sweet despair of the ,pole4 ,to her dismay ,ermentrude caught herself drifting away from the moment's hazy charm to thoughts of her poet4 ,it annoyed her1 she sharply reminded herself1 that she could not absolutely saturate herself with the music and the manifold souvenirs of the old htel2 perhaps this may have been the spell of ,rajewski's playing4444 ,the music ceased4 ,a dry voice whispered in her ear3-- ,great artist1 that chap ,rajewski4 ,had to leave ,russia once because he wouldn't play the ,russian national hymn for the ,czar4 ,bless me1 but he was almost sent to ,siberia--and in irons too4 ,told me here in this very room that he was much frightened4 ,they lighted fires in ,poland to honour his patriotism4 ,he acknowledged that he would have played twenty national hymns1 but he couldn't remember the ,russian one1 or never knew it--anyhow1 he was christened a patriot1 and all by a slip of the memory4 ,now1 that's luck1 isn't it8 ,she began to dislike this cynical old man with his depreciating tales of genius4 ,she knew that her idols often tottered on clay feet1 but she hated to be reminded of that disagreeable reality4 ,she went to ,monsieur ,rajewski and thanked him prettily in her cool new voice1 and again the princess nodded approval4 ,she is chic1 your little girl1 she confided in her deep tones to ,mrs4 ,sheldam1 whose tired ,new ,england face almost beamed at the compliment4 ,we were in ,hamburg at the ,zological ,garden2 ,i always go to see animals1 declaimed the princess1 in the midst of a thick silence4 ,for you know1 my friends1 one studies humanity there in the raw4 ,well1 ,i dragged our party to the large monkey cage1 and we enjoyed ourselves--immensely6 ,and what do you think we saw6 ,a genuine novelty4 ,some mischievous sailor had given an overgrown ape a mirror1 and the poor wretch spent its time staring at its image1 neglecting its food and snarling at its companions4 ,the beast would catch the reflection of another ape in the glass and quickly bound to a more remote perch4 ,the keeper told me that for a week his charge had barely eaten4 ,it slept with the mirror held tightly in its paws4 ,now1 what did the mirror mean to the animal6 ,i believe--here she became very vivacious--,i really believe that it was developing self-consciousness1 and in time it would become human4 ,on our way back from ,heligoland1 where we were entertained on the emperor's yacht at the naval manuvres1 we paid another visit to our monkey house4 ,the poor1 misguided brute had died of starvation4 ,it had become so vain1 so egotistical1 so superior1 that it refused food and wasted away in a corner1 gazing at itself1 a hairy ,narcissus1 or rather the perfect type of your modern ,superman1 who contemplates his ego until his brain sickens and he dies quite mad4 ,every one laughed4 ,mrs4 ,sheldam wondered what a ,superman was1 and ,ermentrude felt annoyed4 ,zarathustra was another of her gods1 and this brusquely related anecdote did not seem to her very spirituelle4 ,but she had not formulated an answer when she heard a name announced1 a name that set her heart beating4 ,at last6 ,the poet had kept his word4 ,she was to meet in the flesh the man whose too few books were her bibles of art1 of philosophy1 of all that stood for aspiration toward a lovely ideal in a dull1 matter-of-fact world4 ,now1 said the princess1 as if smiling at some hidden joke1 now you will meet my ,superman4 ,and she led the young ,american girl to ,octave ,kroulan and his wife1 and1 after greeting them in her masculine manner1 she burst forth3-- ,dear poet6 here is one of your adorers from overseas4 ,guard your husband well1 ,madame ,lys4 ,so he was married4 ,well1 that was not such a shocking fact4 ,nor was ,madame ,kroulan either--a very tall1 slim1 ,english-looking blonde1 who dressed modishly and evidently knew that she was the wife of a famous man4 ,ermentrude found her insipid2 she had studied her face first before comparing the mental photograph of the poet with the original4 ,nor did she feel1 with unconscious sex rivalry1 any sense of inferiority to the wife of her admired one4 ,he was nearly forty1 but he looked older2 gray hairs tinged his finely modelled head4 ,his face was shaven1 and with the bulging brow and full jaw he was more of the ,german or ,belgian than ,french4 ,black hair thrown off his broad forehead accented this resemblance2 a composer rather than a prose-poet and dramatist1 was the rapid verdict of ,ermentrude4 ,she was not disappointed1 though she had expected a more fragile type4 ,the weaver of moonshine1 of mystic phrases1 of sweet gestures and veiled sonorities should not have worn the guise of one who ate three meals a day and slept soundly after his mellow incantations4 ,yet she was not--inheriting1 as she did1 a modicum of sense from her father--disappointed4 ,the conversation did not move more briskly with the entrance of the ,kroulans4 ,the marquis sullenly gossiped with ,mr4 ,sheldam2 the princess withdrew herself to the far end of the room with her two painters4 ,rajewski was going to a soire1 he informed them1 where he would play before a new picture by ,carrire1 as it was slowly undraped2 no one less in rank than a duchess would be present6 ,a little stiffly1 ,ermentrude ,adams assured the ,kroulans of her pleasure in meeting them4 ,the poet took it as a matter of course1 simply1 without a suspicion of posed grandeur4 ,ermentrude saw this with satisfaction4 ,if he had clay feet1--and he must have them2 all men do1--at least he wore his genius with a sense of its responsibility4 ,she held tightly her hands and leaned back1 awaiting the precious moment when the oracle would speak1 when this modern magician of art would display his cunning4 ,but he was fatuously commonplace in his remarks4 ,i have often told ,madame ,kroulan that my successes in ,europe do not appeal to me as those in far-away ,america4 ,dear ,america--how it must enjoy a breath of real literature6 ,mrs4 ,sheldam sat up primly1 and ,ermentrude was vastly amused4 ,with a flash of fun she replied3-- ,yes1 ,america does1 ,monsieur ,kroulan4 ,we have so many ,europeans over there now that our standard has fallen off from the days of ,emerson and ,whitman4 ,and didn't ,america give ,europe ,poe8 ,she knew that this boast had the ring of the amateur1 but it pleased her to see how it startled him4 ,america is the ,great ,bribe1 he pursued4 ,you have no artists in ,new ,york4 ,nor have we ,new ,yorkers1 the girl retorted4 ,the original writing natives live in ,europe4 ,he looked puzzled1 but did not stop4 ,you have depressed literature to the point of publication1 he solemnly asserted4 ,this was too much and she laughed in mockery4 ,husband and wife joined her1 while ,mrs4 ,sheldam trembled at the audacity of her niece--whose irony was as much lost on her as it was on the poet4 ,but you publish plays and books1 do you not8 ,ermentrude navely asked4 ,madame ,kroulan interposed in icy tones3-- ,mademoiselle ,adams misunderstands4 ,monsieur ,kroulan is the ,grand ,disdainer4 ,like his bosom friend1 ,monsieur ,mallarm1 he cares little for the ,philistine public-- ,he interrupted her3 ,lys1 dear friend1 you must not bore ,miss ,adams with my theories of art and life4 ,she has read me-- ,ermentrude gave him a grateful glance4 ,he seemed1 despite his self-consciousness1 a great man--how great she could not exactly define4 ,his eyes--two black diamonds full of golden reflections1 the eyes of a conqueror1 a seer--began to burn little bright spots into her consciousness1 and1 selfishly1 she admitted1 she wished the two women would go away and leave her to interrogate her idol in peace4 ,there were so many things to ask him1 so many difficult passages in ,the ,golden ,glaze and ,hesitations1 above all in that great dramatic poem1 ,the ,voices1 which she had witnessed in ,paris1 with its mystic atmosphere of pity and terror4 ,she would never forget her complex feelings1 when at a ,paris theatre1 she saw slowly file before her in a ,dream-,masque the wraith-like figures of the poet1 their voices their only corporeal gift4 ,picture had dissolved into picture1 and in the vapours of these crooning enchantments she heard voices of various timbres enunciating in monosyllables the wisdom of the ages1 the poetry of the future4 ,this play was1 for her1 and for ,paris1 too1 the last word in dramatic art1 the supreme nuance of beauty4 ,everything had been accomplished3 ,shakespeare1 ,molire1 ,ibsen2 yet here was a new evocation1 a fresh peep at untrodden paths4 ,in bliss that almost dissolved her being1 the emotional ,american girl reached her hotel1 where she tried to sleep4 ,when her aunt told her of the invitation tendered by the princess1 a rare one socially1 she was in the ninth heaven of the ,swedenborgians4 ,any place to meet ,octave ,kroulan6 ,and now he sat near her signalling1 she knew1 her sympathies1 and as the fates would have it two dragons1 her aunt and his wife1 guarded the gateway to the precious garden of his imagination4 ,she could have cried aloud her chagrin4 ,such an inestimable treasure was genius that to see it under lock and key invited indignation4 ,the time was running on1 and her great man had said nothing4 ,he could1 if he wished1 give her a million extraordinary glimpses of the earth and the air and the waters below them1 for his eyes were mirrors of his marvellous and many-coloured soul2 but what chance had he with a conjugal iceberg on one side1 a cloud of smoke--poor ,aunt ,sheldam--on the other6 ,she felt in her fine1 rhapsodic way like a young priestess before the altar1 ready to touch with a live coal the lips of the gods1 but withheld by a malignant power4 ,for the first time in her life ,ermentrude ,adams1 delicately nurtured in a social hothouse1 realized in wrath the major tyranny of caste4 ,the evening wore away4 ,mrs4 ,sheldam aroused her husband as she cast a horrified glance at the classic prints he had been studying4 ,the princess dismissed her two impressionists and came over to the poet4 ,she1 too plainly1 did not care for his wife1 and as the party broke up there was a sense of relief1 though ,ermentrude could not conceal her dissatisfaction4 ,her joy was sincere when ,madame ,kroulan asked ,miss ,adams and her aunt to call4 ,it was slightly gelid1 the invitation1 though accepted immediately by ,ermentrude4 ,the convenances could look out for themselves2 she would not go back to ,america without an interview4 ,the princess raised her hand mockingly4 ,what1 ,i go to one of your conferences6 ,not ,i1 cher pote4 ,keep your mysteries for your youthful disciples4 ,she looked at ,ermentrude1 who did not lower her eyes--she was triumphant now4 ,perhaps he might say something before they parted4 ,he did not1 but the princess did4 ,beware1 young ,america1 of my ,superman6 ,you remember the story of the ape with the mirror6 ,ermentrude flushed with mortification4 ,this princess was decidedly rude at times4 ,but she kept her temper and thanked the lady for a unique evening4 ,her exquisite youth and grace pleased the terrible old woman1 who then varied her warning4 ,beware1 she called out in comical accents as they slowly descended the naked marble staircase1 of the ,sleeping ,princess6 ,the ,american girl looked over her shoulder4 ,i don't think your ,superman has a mirror at all4 ,yes1 but his princess holds one for him6 was the jesting reply4 ,the carriage door slammed4 ,they rolled homeward1 and ,ermentrude suffered from a desperate sense of the unachieved4 ,the princess had been impertinent1 the ,kroulans rather banal4 ,mrs4 ,sheldam watched her charge's face in the intermittent lights of the ,rue de ,rivoli4 ,i think your poet a bore1 she essayed4 ,then she shook her husband--they had reached their htel4 ,,ii ,it was the garden of a poet1 she declared1 as1 with the ,kroulans and her aunt1 ,ermentrude sat and slowly fanned herself1 watching the ,bois de ,boulogne1 which foamed like a cascade of green opposite this pretty little house in ,neuilly4 ,the day was warm and the drive1 despite the shaded1 watered avenues1 a dusty1 fatiguing one4 ,mrs4 ,sheldam had1 doubtfully1 it is true1 suggested the bourgeois comfort of the ,mtropolitain1 but she was frowned on by her enthusiastic niece4 ,what6 ride underground in such weather8 ,so they arrived at the poet's not in the best of humour1 for ,mrs4 ,sheldam had quietly chidden her charge on the score of her flightiness4 ,these foreign celebrities were well enough in their way1 but--6 ,and now ,ermentrude1 instead of looking ,octave ,kroulan in the face1 preferred the vista of the pale blue sky1 awash with a scattered1 fleecy white cloud1 the rolling edges of which echoed the dazzling sunshine4 ,the garden was not large1 its few trees were of ample girth1 and their shadows most satisfying to eyes weary of the city's bright1 hard surfaces4 ,there were no sentimental plaster casts to disturb the soft harmonies of this walled-in retreat1 and if ,ermentrude preferred to regard with obstinacy unusual in her mobile temperament the picture of ,paris below them1 it was because she felt that ,kroulan was literally staring at her4 ,a few moments after their arrival and with the advent of tea1 he had accomplished what she had fervently wished for the night she had met him--he succeeded1 by several easy moves1 in isolating her from her aunt1 and1 notwithstanding her admiration1 her desire to tap with her knuckles the metal of her idol and listen for a ring of hollowness1 she was alarmed4 ,yet1 perversely1 she knew that he would not exhibit his paces before his wife--naturally a disinterested spectator--or before her aunt1 who was hardly intimate enough4 ,the long-desired hour found her disquieted4 ,she did not have many moments to analyze these mixed emotions1 for he spoke1 and his voice was agreeably modulated4 ,you1 indeed1 honour the poor poet's abode with your youth and your responsive soul1 ,miss ,adams4 ,i thank you1 though my gratitude will seem as poor as my hospitality4 ,she looked at him now1 a little fluttered4 ,you bring to me across seas the homage of a fresh nation1 a fresh nature4 ,she beat a mental retreat at these calm1 confident phrases2 what could he know of her homage8 ,and if ,amiel has said1 ',un paysage est un tat de l'me1' ,i may amend it by calling my soul a state of landscape1 since it has been visited by your image4 ,this was more reassuring1 if exuberant4 ,man is mere inert matter when born1 but his soul is his own work4 ,hence1 ,i assert3 the ,creator of man is--man4 ,now she felt at ease4 ,this wisdom1 hewn from the vast quarry of his genius1 she had encountered before in his ,golden ,glaze1 that book which had built temples of worship in ,america wherein men and women sought and found the pabulum for living beautifully4 ,he was talking his book4 ,why not8 ,it was certainly delightful plagiarism6 ,you know1 dear young lady1 he continued1 and his eyes1 with their contracting and expanding disks1 held her attention like a clear flame1 do you know that my plays1 my books1 are but the drama of my conscience exteriorized8 ,out of the reservoirs of my soul ,i draw my inspiration4 ,i have an sthetic horror of evidence2 like ,renan1 ,i loathe the deadly heresy of affirmation2 ,i have the certitude of doubt1 for are we poets not the lovers of the truth decorated8 ,when ,i built my lordly palace of art1 it was not with the ugly durability of marble4 ,no2 like the ,mohammedan who constructed his mosque and mingled with the cement sweet-smelling musk1 so ,i dreamed my mosque into existence with music wedded to philosophy4 ,music and philosophy are the twin edges of my sword4 ,ah6 you smile and ask1 ,where is ,woman in this sanctuary8 ,she is not barred1 ,i assure you4 ,my music--is ,woman4 ,beauty is a promise of happiness1 ,stendhal says4 ,i go further3 ,life--the woman one has2 ,art--the woman one loves6 ,she was startled4 ,her aunt and ,madame ,kroulan had retired to the end of the garden1 and only a big bee1 brumming overhead1 was near4 ,he had arisen with the pontifical air of a man who has a weighty gospel to expound4 ,he encircled with his potent personality the imagination of his listener2 the hypnotic quality of his written word was carried leagues farther in effect by his trained1 soothing voice4 ,flattered1 no longer frightened1 her nerves deliciously assaulted by this coloured rhetoric1 ,ermentrude yielded her intellectual assent4 ,she did not comprehend4 ,she felt only the rhythms of his speech1 as sound swallowed sense4 ,he held her captive with a pause1 and his eloquent eyes--they were of an extraordinary lustre--completed the subjugation of her will4 ,only kissed hands are white1 he murmured1 and suddenly she felt a velvety kiss on her left hand4 ,ermentrude did not pretend to follow the words of her aunt and ,madame ,kroulan as they stopped before a bed of ,june roses4 ,nor did she remember how she reached the pair4 ,the one vivid reality of her life was the cruel act of her idol4 ,she was not conscious of blushing1 nor did she feel that she had grown pale4 ,his wife treated her with impartial indifference1 at times a smile crossing her face1 with its implication--to ,ermentrude--of selfish reserves4 ,but this hateful smile cut her to the soul--one more prisoner at his chariot wheels1 it proclaimed6 ,kroulan was as unconcerned as if he had written a poetic line4 ,he had expected more of an outburst1 more of a rebuff2 the absolute snapping of the web he had spun surprised him4 ,his choicest music had been spread for the eternal banquet1 but the invited one tarried4 ,very well6 ,if not to-day1 to-morrow6 ,he repeated a verse of ,verlaine1 and with his wife dutifully at his side bowed to the two ,americans and told them of the pleasure experienced4 ,ermentrude1 her candid eyes now reproachful and suspicious1 did not flinch as she took his hand--it seemed to melt in hers--but her farewell was conventional4 ,in the street1 before they seated themselves in their carriage1 ,mrs4 ,sheldam shook her head4 ,oh1 my dear6 ,what a woman6 ,what a man6 ,i have such a story to tell you4 ,no wonder you admire these people4 ,the wife is a genius--isn't she handsome8--but the man--he is an angel6 ,i didn't see his wings1 auntie1 was the curt reply4 ,,iii ,the ,sheldams always stayed at the same htel during their annual visits to ,paris4 ,it was an old-fashioned house with an entrance in the ,rue ,saint-,honor and another in the ,rue de ,rivoli4 ,the girl sat on a small balcony from which she could view the ,tuileries ,gardens without turning her head2 while looking farther westward she saw the ,place de la ,concorde1 its windy spaces a chessboard for rapid vehicles1 whose wheels1 wet from the watered streets1 ground out silvery fire in the sun-rays of this gay ,june afternoon4 ,where the ,avenue des ,champs lyses began1 a powdery haze enveloped the equipages1 overblown with their summer toilets1 all speeding to ,longchamps4 ,it was racing day1 and ,ermentrude1 feigning a headache1 had insisted that her uncle and aunt go to the meeting4 ,it would amuse them1 she knew1 and she wished to be alone4 ,nearly a week had passed since the visit to ,neuilly1 and she had been afraid to ask her aunt what ,madame ,kroulan had imparted to her--afraid and also too proud4 ,her sensibility had been grievously wounded by the plainly expressed feelings of ,octave ,kroulan4 ,she had reviewed without prejudice his behaviour1 and she could not set down to mere ,latin gallantry either his words or his action4 ,no1 there was too much intensity in both1--ah1 how she rebelled at the brutal disillusionment6--and there were1 she argued1 method and sequence in his approach and attack4 ,if she had been the average coquetting creature1 the offence might not have been so mortal4 ,but1 so she told herself again and again1--as if to frighten away lurking darker thoughts1 ready to spring out and devour her good resolutions1--she had worshipped her idol with reservations4 ,his poetry1 his philosophy1 were so inextricably blended that they smote her nerves like the impact of some bright perfume1 some sharp chord of modern music4 ,dangerously she had filed at her emotions in the service of culture and she was now paying the penalty for her ardent confidence4 ,his ideas1 vocal with golden meanings1 were never meant to be translated into the vernacular of life1 never to be transposed from higher to lower levels2 this base betrayal of his ideals she felt ,kroulan had committed4 ,had he not said that love should be like un baiser sur un miroir8 ,was he1 after all1 what the princess had called him8 ,and was he only a mock sun swimming in a firmament of glories which he could have outshone8 ,a servant knocked and1 not receiving a response1 entered with a letter4 ,the superscription was strange4 ,she opened and read3-- ,,dear ,,and ,,tender ,,child3 ,i know you were angry with me when we parted4 ,i am awaiting here below your answer to come to you and bare my heart4 ,say yes6 ,is the gentleman downstairs8 she asked4 ,the servant bowed4 ,the blood in her head buzzing1 she nodded1 and the man disappeared4 ,standing there in the bright summer light1 ,ermentrude ,adams saw her face in the oval glass1 above the fireplace1 saw its pallor1 the strained expression of the eyes1 and like a drowning person she made a swift inventory of her life1 and1 with the insane hope of one about to be swallowed up by the waters1 she grasped at a solitary straw4 ,let him come2 she would have an explanation from him6 ,the torture of doubt might then be brought to an end4444 ,some one glided into the apartment4 ,turning quickly1 ,ermentrude recognized ,madame ,kroulan4 ,before she could orient herself that lady took her by both hands1 and uttering apologetic words1 forced the amazed girl into a chair4 ,don't be frightened1 dear young lady4 ,i am not here to judge1 but to explain4 ,yes1 ,i know my husband loves you4 ,but do not believe in him4 ,he is a terrific man4 ,this word she emphasized as if doubtful of its meaning4 ,ah1 if you but knew the inferno of my existence6 ,there are so many like you--stop1 do not leave6 ,you are not to blame4 ,i1 ,lillias ,kroulan1 do not censure your action4 ,my husband is an evil man and a charlatan4 ,hear me out6 ,he has only the gift of words4 ,he steals all his profundities of art from dead philosophers4 ,he is not a genuine poet4 ,he is not a dramatist4 ,i swear to you that he is now the butt of artistic ,paris4 ,the ,princesse de ,lancovani made him--she is another of his sort4 ,he was the mode2 now he is desperate because his day has passed4 ,he knows you are rich4 ,he desires your money1 not you4 ,i discovered that he was coming here this day4 ,oh1 ,i am cleverer than he4 ,i followed4 ,here ,i am to save you from him--and from yourself--he is not now below in the salon4 ,please go away6 indignantly answered ,ermentrude4 ,she was furious at this horrible1 plain-spoken1 jealous creature4 ,save her from herself--as if ever she had wavered6 ,the disinterested adoration she had entertained for the great artist--what a hideous ending was this6 ,the tall1 blond woman with the narrow1 light blue eyes watched the girl4 ,how could any one call her handsome1 ,ermentrude wondered6 ,then her visitor noticed the crumpled letter on the table4 ,with a gesture of triumph she secured it and smiling her superior smile she left1 closing the door softly behind her4 ,only kissed hands are white6 ,ermentrude threw herself on the couch1 her cheeks burning1 her heart tugging in her bosom like a ship impatient at its anchorage4 ,and was this the sordid end of a beautiful dream8444 ,do you know1 dearest1 we have had such news6 exclaimed ,mrs4 ,sheldam as she entered1 and so charged with her happiness that she did not notice the drawn features of her niece4 ,charlie1 ,charlie will be here some time next week4 ,he arrives at ,havre4 ,he has just cabled his father4 ,let us go down to meet the boy4 ,charlie was the only son of the ,sheldams and fonder of his cousin than she dare tell herself4 ,she burst into tears1 which greatly pleased her aunt4 ,in the train1 eight days later1 ,ermentrude sat speechless in company with her aunt and uncle4 ,but as the train approached ,havre she remembered something4 ,aunt ,clara1 she bravely asked1 do you recall the afternoon we spent at the ,kroulans'8 ,what did ,madame ,kroulan tell you then8 ,is it a secret8 ,she held tightly clenched in her hand the arm-rest at the side of the compartment4 ,oh1 dear1 no6 ,the madame was very chatty1 very communicative4 ,it's funny ,i've not told you before4 ,she confessed that she was the happiest woman on earth2 not only was she married to a grand genius1--for the life of me ,i can't see where that comes in6--but he was a good man into the bargain4 ,it appears that his life is made weary by women who pester him with their attentions4 ,even our princess--yes1 the princess2 isn't it shocking8--was a perfect nuisance until ,mr4 ,kroulan assured her that1 though he owed much of his success in the world to her1 yet he would never betray the trust reposed in him by his wife4 ,what's the matter1 dear1 does the motion of the car affect you8 ,it does rock6 ,and he shows her all the letters he gets from silly women admirers--oh1 these foreign women and their queer ways6 ,and he tells her the way they make up to him when he meets them in society4 ,ermentrude shivered4 ,the princess also6 ,and with all her warning about the ,superman6 ,now she understood4 ,then she took the hand of ,mrs4 ,sheldam1 and1 stroking it1 whispered3-- ,auntie1 ,i'm so glad ,i am going to ,havre1 going to see ,charlie soon4 ,the lids of her eyes were wet4 ,mrs4 ,sheldam had never been so motherly4 ,you are a darling6 she answered1 as she squeezed ,ermentrude's arm4 ,but there is some one who doesn't seem to care much for ,havre4 ,she pointed out ,mr4 ,sheldam1 who1 oblivious of picturesque ,normandy through which the train was speeding1 slept serenely4 ,ermentrude envied him his repose4 ,he had never stared into the maddening mirror which turned poets into ,supermen and--sometimes monsters4 ,had she herself not gazed into this distorting glass8 ,the tune of her life had never sounded so discouragingly faint and inutile4 ,perhaps she did not posses the higher qualities that could extort from a nature so rich and various as ,octave ,kroulan's its noblest music6 ,perhaps his wife had told the truth to ,mrs4 ,sheldam and had lied to her6 ,and then1 through a merciful mist of tears1 ,ermentrude saw ,havre1 saw her future4 ,,vii ,,antichrist ,to wring from man's tongue the denial of his existence is proof of ,satan's greatest power4--,p,,re ,,ravignan4 ,the most learned man and the most lovable it has been my good fortune to know is ,monsignor ,anatole ,o',bourke--alas6 ,i should write1 was1 for his noble soul is gathered to ,god4 ,i met him in ,paris1 when ,i was a music student4 ,he sat next to me at a ,pasdeloup concert in the ,cirque d',hiver1 how many years ago ,i do not care to say4 ,a casual exclamation betrayed my nationality1 and during the intermission we drifted into easy conversation4 ,within five minutes he held me enthralled1 did this big-souled1 large-brained ,irishman from the ,county ,tipperary4 ,we discussed the programme--a new symphonic poem by ,rimski-,korsakoff1 ,sadko1 had been alternately hissed and cheered--and ,i soon learned that my companion mourned a ,french mother and rejoiced in the loving presence of a very ,celtic father4 ,from the former he must have inherited his vigorous1 logical intellect2 the latter had evidently endowed him with a robust1 jovial temperament1 coupled with a wonderful perception of things mystical4 ,after the concert we walked slowly along the line of the boulevards4 ,it was early ,may1 and the wheel of green which we traversed1 together with the brilliant picture made by the crowds1 put us both in a happy temper4 ,it was not long before ,monsignor heard the confession of my ideals4 ,he smiled quickly when ,i raved of music1 but the moment ,i drifted into the theme of mysticism--the transposition is ever an easy one--,i saw his interest leap to meet mine4 ,so1 you have read ,st4 ,john of the ,cross8 ,i nodded my head4 ,and ,st4 ,teresa1 that marvellous woman8 ,the ,americans puzzle me1 he continued4 ,you are the most practical people on the globe and yet the most idealistic4 ,when ,i hear of a new religion1 ,i am morally certain that it is evolved in ,america4 ,a new religion6 ,i started4 ,this phrase had often assailed me1 both in print and in the depths of my imagination4 ,he divined my thought--ah6 he was a wonder-worker in the way he noted a passing nuance4 ,when we wear out the old one1 it will be time for a new religion1 he blandly announced2 you ,americans1 because of your new mechanical inventions1 fancy you have free entry into the domain of the spiritual4 ,but come1 my dear young friend4 ,here is my htel4 ,can't ,i invite you to dinner8 ,we had reached the ,boulevard ,malsherbe and1 as ,i was miles out of my course1 ,i consented4 ,the priest fascinated me with his erudition1 which swam lightly on the crest of his talk4 ,he was1 so ,i discovered during the evening1 particularly well versed in the mystical writers1 in the writings of the ,kabbalists and the books of the inspired ,northman1 ,swedenborg4 ,as we sat drinking our coffee at one of the little tables in the spacious courtyard1 ,i revived the motive of a new religion4 ,monsignor1 have you ever speculated on the possible appearance of a second ,mahomet1 a second ,buddha8 ,what if1 from some ,asiatic jungle1 there sallied out upon ,europe a terrible ape-god1 a ,mongolian with exotic eyes and the magnetism of a religious madman-- ,you are speaking of ,antichrist8 he calmly questioned4 ,antichrist6 ,do you really believe in the ,devil's ,messiah8 ,believe1 man6 why1 ,i have seen him4 ,i leaned back in my chair1 wondering whether ,i should laugh or look solemn4 ,he noted my indecision1 and his eyes twinkled--they were the blue-gray of the ,irish1 the eyes of a seer or an amiable ironist4 ,listen6 but first let us get some strong cigars4 ,garon6 ,as we smoked our panatelas he related this history3-- ,you ask me if ,i believe in an ,antichrist1 thereby betraying your slender knowledge of the ,scriptures--you will pardon the liberty6 ,i may refer you not only to ,john's ,epistles1 to the revelations of the dreamer of ,patmos1 but to so many learned doctors of the faith that it would take a week merely to enumerate the titles of their works all bearing on the mysterious subject4 ,our ,holy ,mother the ,church has held aloof from any doctrinal pronouncements4 ,the ,antichrist has been predicted for the past thousand years4 ,i recall as a boy poring over the map of the world which a friend of my mother had left with her4 ,this lady my father called 'the angel with the moulting wings1' because she was always in an ecstatic tremor over the second coming of the ,messiah4 ,she would go to the housetop at least once every six months1 and there1 with a band of pious deluded geese dressed in white flowing robes1 would inspect the firmament for favourable signs4 ,nothing ever happened1 as we know1 yet the predictions sown about the borders of that strange-looking chart have in a measure come true4 ,there were the grimmest and most resounding quotations from the ,apocalypse4 ',babylon is fallen1 is fallen6' hummed in my ears for many a day4 ,and the pale horse also haunted me4 ,what would ,i have given to hear the music of that 'voice from heaven1 as the voice of many waters1 and as the voice of great thunder4' ,i mean the 'harpers harping with their harps' the 'new song before the throne1 before the four beasts and the elders4' ,it is recorded that 'no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand1 which were redeemed from the earth4' ,that is a goodly multitude4 ,let us hope we shall be of it4 ,learned ,sir ,thomas ,browne asked what songs the sirens sang4 ,i prefer to hear that wonderful 'harpd' song4 ,but ,i wander4 ,the fault lies in that wondrous map of the world1 with its pictured hordes of ,russians sweeping down upon ,europe and ,america like a plague of locusts1 the wicked unbaptized ,antichrist at the head of them1 waving a cross held in reversed fashion4 ,don't ask me the meaning of this crazy symbolism4 ,the sect to which my mother's friend belonged--,god bless her1 for she was a dear weak-minded lady--must have set great store by these signs4 ,i admit that as a boy they scared me4 ,sitting here now1 after forty years1 ,i can still see those cryptograms4 ,however1 to my tale4 ,about ten years ago ,i was in ,paris1 and in my capacity as ,monsignor ,i had to attend a significant gathering at the embassy of the ,russian ambassador in this city of light4 ,he waved his left hand1 from which ,i caught the purple fire of amethyst4 ,it was a notable affair1 and ,i don't mind telling you now that it was largely political4 ,i had just returned from a secret mission at ,rome1 and ,i was forced to mingle with diplomatic people4 ,prince ,wronsky was the representative of the ,czar at that time in ,france1 a charming man with a flavour of diablerie in his speech4 ,he was a fervent ,greek ,catholic1 like most of his countrymen1 and it pleased him to fence mischievously with me on the various dogmas of our respective faiths4 ,he called himself the ,catholic2 ,i was only a ,roman ,catholic4 ,i told him ,i was satisfied4 ,on this particular night he was rather agitated when ,i made my salutations4 ,he whispered to me that madame the princess had that very day presented him with a son and heir4 ,naturally ,i congratulated him4 ,his restlessness increased as the evening wore on4 ,at last he beckoned to me--we were very old friends--to follow him into his library4 ,there he hesitated4 ',i want you to do me a favour1 an odd one2 but as you are known to me so long ,i venture to ask it4 ,do go upstairs and see my boy--' ,his tone was that of entreaty4 ,i smiled4 ',dear prince1 ,i am1 as a priest1 hardly a judge of children4 ,but if you wish it--is there anything wrong with the little chap's health8' ',god forbid6' he ejaculated and piously crossed himself4 ,we went to the first tage of his palace--he was gorgeously housed--and there he said3-- ',madame is in another wing of our apartments--go in here--the child is attended by the nurse4' ,with that he pushed me through a swinging door and left me standing in a semi-lighted chamber4 ,i was very near ill temper1 ,i assure you1 for my position was embarrassing4 ,the room was large and heavily hung with tapestries4 ,a nurse1 a hag1 a witch1 a dark old gypsy creature1 came over to me and asked me1 in ,russian3-- ',do you wish to see his ,royal ,highness the ,king of ,earth and ,heaven8' ,thinking she was some stupid moujik's wife1 ,i nodded my head seriously1 though amused by the exalted titles4 ,she put up a thin hand and ,i tiptoed to a cradle of gold and ivory--it certainly seemed so to my inexperienced eyes--the nurse parted the curtains1 and there ,i saw--,i saw--but my son1 you will think ,i exaggerate--,i saw the most exquisite baby in the universe4 ,you laugh at an old bachelor's rhapsody6 ,in reality ,i don't care much for children4 ,but that child1 that supreme morsel of humanity1 was too much for me4 ,i stood and stared and stood and stared1 and all the while the tiny angel was smiling in my eyes1 oh6 such a celestial smile4 ,from his large blue eyes1 like flowers1 he smiled into my very soul4 ,i was chained to the floor as if by lead4 ,every fibre of my soul1 heart1 and brain went out to that little wanderer from the infinite4 ,it was a pathetic face1 full of suppressed sorrow--,dieu6 but he was older than his father4 ,i found my mind beginning to wander as if hypnotized4 ,i tried to divert my gaze1 but in vain4 ,some subtle emanation from this extraordinary child entered my being1 and then1 as if a curtain were being slowly lowered1 a mist encompassed my soul2 ,i was ceding1 ,i felt1 the immortal part of me to another1 and all the time ,i was smiling at the baby and the baby smiling back4 ,i remember his long blond hair1 parted in the middle and falling over his shoulders2 but even that remarkable trait for an infant a few hours old did not puzzle me1 for my sanity was surely being undermined by the persistent gaze of the boy4 ,i vaguely recall passing my hand across my breast as if to stop the crevice through which my personality was filtering2 ,i was certain that my soul was about to be stolen by that damnable child4 ,then the nurse dropped something1 and my thoughts came back1--they were surely on the road to hell1 for they were red and flaming when ,i got hold of them1--and the spell1 or whatever it was1 snapped4 ,i looked up and noticed the woman maliciously smiling--if it had been in the days of the inquisition1 ,i would have sent her to the faggots1 for she was a hell-hag4 ,the child had fallen back in his cradle as if the effort of holding my attention had exhausted him4 ,then it struck me that there was something unholy about this affair1 and ,i resolutely strode to the crib and seized the baby4 ',what changeling is this8' ,i demanded in a loud voice1 for the being that twisted in my grip was two or two hundred years old4 ',lay him down1 you monster6' clamoured the nurse1 as ,i held the squirming bundle by both hands4 ,it was a task--and ,i'm very strong4 ,a superhuman strength waged against my muscles2 but ,i was an old football half-back at the university1 so ,i conquered the poor little devil4 ,it moaned like a querulous old man2 the nurse1 throwing her weight upon me1 forced me to let go my hold4 ,as ,i did so the baby turned on its face1 its dainty robe split wide open1 and to my horror ,i saw on its back1 between its angelically white shoulders1 burnt in as if by branding irons1 the crucifix--and upside down6 ,i shuddered4 ,i knew4 ,he lowered his voice and spoke in detached phrases4 ,it was--oh6 that ,i live to say it--it was the dreaded ,antichrist--yes1 this ,russian baby--it was predicted that he would be born in ,russia--,i trembled so that my robes waved in an invisible wind4 ,the reversed cross--the mark of the beast--the sign by which we are to know the ,human ,satan--the last opponent of ,christianity4 ,i confess that ,i was discomposed at the sight of this little fiend1 for it meant that the red star1 the baleful star of the north1 would rise in the black heavens and bloody war spread among the nations of the earth4 ,it also meant that doomsday was not far off1 and1 good ,christian as ,i believe myself to be1 a shiver ran down my spine at the idea of ,gabriel's trump and the resurrection of the dead4 ,yes1 ,i shan't deny it--so material are the sons of men1 ,i among them6 ,and the very thought of ,judgment ,day and its blasting horrors withered my heart4 ,still something had to be done1 prophecy or no prophecy4 ,to fulfil the letter of the law this infernal visitor was let loose from hell4 ,there was one way1 so ,i grasped-- ,great ,god1 ,monsignor1 you didn't strangle the demon8 ,i cried4 ,no1 no--something better4 ,i rushed over to a marble wash-basin and seized a ewer of water1 and1 going back to the crib1 despite the frantic remonstrances of the old sorceress1 ,i baptized the ,antichrist in the name of the ,father1 of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,before my eyes ,i saw the inverted cross vanish4 ,then ,i soundly spanked the presumptuous youngster and1 running down the staircase1 ,i sought the prince and said to him3-- ',your boy is now a ,roman1 not a ,greek ,catholic4 ,we are quits6' ,the idea of a spanked ,antichrist disconsolately roaming the earth1 unwilling to return to his fiery home for fear of a scolding1 his guns of evil spiked1 his virus innocuous1 his mission of spiritual destruction a failure--for what could a baptized devil's child do but pray and repent8--all this dawned upon me1 and ,i burst into laughter1 the worthy ,monsignor discreetly participating4 ,his bizarre recital proved to me that1 despite his ,gallic first name1 ,monsignor ,anatole ,o',bourke hailed from the ,county ,tipperary4 ,,viii ,,the ,,eternal ,,duel ,what is the sorriest thing that enters ,hell8 --,d4,g4 ,,rossetti1 ,vain ,virtues4 ,the face set him to a strange wondering2 he sat at the coffin and watched it4 ,his wife's face it was1 and above the sorrow of irrevocable parting floated the thought that she did not look happy as she lay in her bed of death4 ,monross had seen but two dead faces before1 those of his father and mother4 ,both had worn upon the mask which death models an expression of relief4 ,but this face1 the face of his wife1 of the woman with whom he had lived--how many years6 ,he asked himself why he shuddered when he looked down at it1 shuddered and also flushed with indignation4 ,had she ever been happy8 ,how many times had she not voiced her feelings in the unequivocal language of love6 ,yet she seemed so hideously unhappy as she stretched before him in her white robes of death4 ,why8 ,what secret was this disclosed at the twelfth hour of life1 on the very brink of the grave8 ,did death1 then1 hold the solution to the enigma of the conquering ,sphinx6 ,monross1 master of psychology1 tormented by visions of perfection1 a victim to the devouring illusion of the artist1--,monross asked himself with chagrin if he had missed the key in which had sounded the symphony of this woman's life4 ,this woman6 ,his wife6 ,a female creature1 long-haired1 smiling1 loquacious--though reticent enough when her real self should have flashed out signals of recognition at him--this wife1 the ,rhoda he had called day and night--what had she been8 ,she had understood him1 had realized his nobility of ideal1 his gifts1 his occasional grandeur of soul1--like all artistic men he was desultory in the manifestation of his talent1--and had read aloud to him those poems written for another woman in the pitch-hot passion of his youth--before he had met her4 ,to her he had been always1 so he told himself1 a cavalier in his devotion4 ,without wealth1 he had kept the soles of her little feet from touching the sidewalks of life4 ,upon her dainty person he had draped lovely garments4 ,why then1 he wondered1 the vindictive expression etched1 as if in aqua fortis1 upon her carved features8 ,some ,old ,world superstition held him captive as he gazed4 ,death is the grand revealer1 he thought2 death alone stamps upon the crumbling canvas of mortality the truth4 ,rhoda was dead4 ,yet her face was alive for the first time4 ,he saw its truth2 and he shuddered1 for he also discerned the hate that had lurked a life long in its devious and smiling expressions--expressions like a set of scenery pushed on and off as the order of the play demanded4 ,oh1 the misery of it all6 ,he1 ,monross1 poet1 lover1 egoist1 husband1 to be confronted by this damnable defiance1 this early-born hate6 ,what had he done6 ,and in the brain cells of the man there awakened a processional fleet of pictures3 ,rhoda wooed2 ,rhoda dazzled2 ,rhoda won2 ,rhoda smiling before the altar2 ,rhoda resigned upon that other altar2 ,rhoda1 wife1 mother2 and ,rhoda--dead6 ,but ,rhoda loved--again he looked at the face4 ,the brow was virginally placid1 the drooping1 bitter mouth alone telling the unhappy husband a story he had never before suspected4 ,rhoda6 ,was it possible this tiny exquisite creature had harboured rancour in her soul for the man who had adored her because she had adored him8 ,rhoda6 ,the shell of his egoism fell away from him4 ,he saw the implacable resentment of this tender girl who1 her married life long1 had loathed the captain that had invaded the citadel of her soul1 and conqueror-like had filched her virgin zone4 ,the woman seemingly stared at the man through lids closed in death--the woman1 the sex that ages ago had feared the barbarian who dragged her to his cave1 where he subdued her1 making her bake his bread and bear his children4 ,in a wide heaven of surmise ,monross read the confirmation of his suspicions--of the eternal duel between the man and the woman2 knew that ,rhoda hated him most when most she trembled at his master bidding4 ,and now ,rhoda lay dead in her lyre-shaped coffin1 saying these ironic things to her husband1 when it was too late for repentance1 too early for eternity4 ,,ix ,,the ,,enchanted ,,yodler ,a ,,marienbad ,,elegy ,i ,the remorseless rain had washed anew the face of the dark blue sky that domed ,marienbad and its curved chain of hills4 ,hugh ,krayne threw open his window and1 leaning out1 exclaimed1 as he eagerly inhaled the soft air of an early ,may morning3-- ,at last6 ,and high time6 ,for nine days he had waded through the wet streets1 heavily leaping the raging gutters and stopping before the door of every optician to scrutinize the barometer4 ,and there are many in this pretty ,bohemian health resort1 where bad weather means bad temper1 with enforced confinement in dismal lodgings or stuffy restaurations1 or--last resort of the bored--the promenade under the colonnade1 while the band plays as human beings shuffle ponderously over the cold stones and stare at each other in sullen desperation4 ,but this day was a glorious one2 in high spirits the ,englishman left the house on the ,oberkreuzbrunnenstrasse and moved slowly toward the springs4 ,he was not thirty1 but looked much older1 for his weight was excessive4 ,an easy-going temperament1 a good appetite1 a well-filled purse1 and a conscience that never disturbed his night's slumber contributed to this making of flesh4 ,he waddled1 despite his great height1 and was sufficiently sensitive to enjoy ,marienbad as much for its fat visitors as for its curative virtues4 ,here at least he was not remarkable1 while in ,london or ,paris people looked at him sourly when he occupied a stall at the theatre or a seat in a caf4 ,not only had he elbow room in ,marienbad1 but he felt small1 positively meagre1 in comparison with the prize specimens he saw painfully progressing about the shaded walks or puffing like obese engines up the sloping roads to the ,rbezahl1 the ,egerlnder1 the ,panorama1 or the distant ,podhorn4 ,the park of the ,kreuzbrunnen was crowded1 though the hour of six had just been signalled from a dozen clocks in the vicinity4 ,the crowd1 gathered from the four quarters of the globe1 was in holiday humour1 as1 glass in hand1 it fell into line1 until each received the water doled out by uniformed officials4 ,occasionally a dispute as to precedence would take place when the serpentine procession filed up the steps of the old-fashioned belvedere2 but quarrels were as rare as a lean man4 ,a fat crowd is always good-tempered1 irritable as may be its individual members4 ,hugh ,krayne kept in position1 while two women shoved him about as if he were a bale of hay4 ,he heard them abusing him in ,bohemian1 a language of which he did not know more than a few words2 their intonations told him that they heartily disliked his presence4 ,yet he could not give way2 it would not have been ,marienbad etiquette4 ,at last he reached the spring and received his usual low bow from the man who turned the polished wheel--the fellow had an eye tuned for gratuities4 ,with the water in his glass three-fourths cold and one-fourth warm1 a small napkin in his left hand1 the ,englishman moved with the jaunty grace of a young elephant down the smooth terraced esplanade that has made ,marienbad so celebrated4 ,the sun was riding high1 and the tender green of the trees1 the flashing of the fountains1 and the music of the band all caused ,hugh to feel happy4 ,he had lost nearly a pound since his arrival the week before1 and he had three more weeks to stay4 ,what might not happen6 ,just where the promenade twists under the shaded alleys that lead to the ,ferdinandsbrunnen1 he saw four women holding hands4 ,they were dressed in ,tyrolean fashion--pleated skirts1 short enough to show white1 plump stockings1 feet in slippers1 upon the head huge caps1 starched and balloony2 their massive white necks1 well exposed1 were encircled by collars that came low on bodices elaborately embroidered4 ,behind them marched several burly chaps1 in all the bravery of the ,austrian ,tyrol--the green alpine hat1 with the feather at the back1 the short gray jacket1 the bare knees1 and the homespun stockings4 ,krayne regarded curiously this strolling band of singers4 ,their faces seemed familiar to him1 and he rapidly recalled souvenirs of ,salzburg and an open-air concert4 ,but this morning there was something that arrested his attention in the group4 ,it was a girl of eighteen or twenty1 with a brilliant complexion1 large blue eyes1 and a robust1 shapely figure4 ,as she passed she gave him such an imploring look1 such an appealing look1 that all his chivalric instincts rushed into the field of his consciousness4 ,he awkwardly dropped his tumbler4 ,he turned around1 half expecting to see the big child still looking at him4 ,instead he gazed upon the athletic backs of her male companions and to the unpleasant accompaniment of hearty feminine laughter4 ,were these women laughing at him8 ,no fool like a fat one1 he merrily thought1 as he bought a new glass at a bazaar1 which a grinning1 monkey-faced creature sold him at the regular price redoubled4 ,before his meagre breakfast of one egg and a dry rusk1 ,krayne endeavoured to evoke the features of the pretty creature who had so strongly attracted him4 ,he saw a tangle of black hair1 a glance that touched his heart with its pathos1 a pair of soft1 parted red lips1 and dazzling teeth4 ,it was an impression sufficiently powerful to keep him company all the forenoon4 ,fat men1 he reasoned on the steep pass that conducts to the ,caf ,forstwarte1 are always sentimental1 by no means always amiable1 and1 as a rule1 subject to sudden fancies4 ,ten years of his sentimental education had been sown with adventures that had begun well1 caprices that had no satisfactory endings4 ,he had fallen in love with the girl who played ,chopin on the piano1 the girl who played ,mendelssohn on the violin1 the girl who played ,goltermann on the violoncello4 ,then followed girls who painted1 poetized1 botanized1 and hammered metal4 ,once--an exception--he had succumbed to the charms of an actress who essayed characters in the dumps--,ibsen soubrettes1 ,strindberg servants1 and ,mxim ,grky tramps4 ,yet he had1 somehow or other1 emerged heart whole from his adventures among those masterpieces of the cosmos--women4 ,certainly this might be another romance added to the long list of his sentimental fractures4 ,he ate his dinner1 the one satisfactory meal of the day allowed him by a cruel doctor1 with the utmost deliberation4 ,he had walked three hours during the morning1 and now1 under the spacious balconies of the ,forstwarte1 he knew that his beef and spinach would be none the worse for a small bottle of very dry1 light ,vslauer4 ,besides1 his physician had not actually forbidden him a little liquid at the midday meal4 ,just before bedtime he was entitled--so his dietetic schedule told him--to one glass of ,pilsner beer4 ,not so bad1 after all1 this banting at ,marienbad1 he reflected4 ,anyhow1 it was better than the existence of those fellows at sea-shore and mountain1 who gorged and guzzled their summer away4 ,then he tried to remember among his ,london club friends any who were as heavy as he1 but he could not4 ,idly smoking1 he regarded the piazzas1 with their tables and groups of obese humanity1 eating1 drinking1 and buzzing--little fat flies1 he thought1 as he drew his waistcoat in1 feeling quite haughty and slender4 ,he read on a placard that the ,prger ,bavarian ,sextet would give a grand concert at the ,hotel ,bellevue this very afternoon4 ,ah ha6 said ,krayne aloud1 that's the girl ,i saw6 ,then he wasted several hours more loitering about the beautiful park on the ,kaiserstrasse and looking in the shop windows at views of ,marienbad on postal cards1 at yellow-covered ,french1 ,german1 and ,russian novels1 at pictures of kings1 queens1 and actresses4 ,he also visited the houses wherein ,goethe1 ,chopin1 and ,wagner had dwelt4 ,it was four o'clock when he entered the garden of the ,bellevue establishment and secured a table4 ,the waiter at his request removed the other chairs1 so he had a nook to himself4 ,not a very large crowd was scattered around2 visitors at ,marienbad do not care to pay for their diversions4 ,in a few minutes1 after a march had been banged from a wretched piano--were pianos ever tuned on the ,continent1 he wondered8--the sextet appeared1 looking as it did in the morning1 and sang an ,austrian melody1 a capella4 ,it was not very interesting4 ,the women stood in front and yelled with a hearty will2 the men roared in the background4 ,krayne saw his young lady1 holding her apron by the sides1 her head thrown back1 her mouth well opened2 but he could not distinguish her individual voice4 ,how pretty she was6 ,he sipped his coffee4 ,then came a zither solo--that abominable instrument of plucked wires1 with its quiver of a love-sick clock about to run down2 this parody of an olian harp always annoyed ,krayne1 and he was glad when the man finished4 ,a stout soprano in a velvet bodice1 her arms bare and brawny1 the arms of a lass accustomed to ploughing and digging potatoes1 sang something about turtle doves4 ,she was odious4 ,odious1 too1 was her companion1 in a duo through which they screamed and rumbled--,verlassen bin i4 ,at last she came out and he saw by the programme that her name was ,rselein ,gich4 ,what an odd name1 what an attractive girl6 ,he finished his coffee and frantically signalled his waitress4 ,it was against the doctor's orders to take more than one cup1 and then the sugar6 ,hang the doctor1 he cried1 and drank a second cup4 ,she sang4 ,her voice was an unusually heavy1 rich contralto4 ,that she was not an accomplished artiste he knew4 ,he did not haunt opera houses for naught1 and1 like all fat men who wear red ties in the forenoon1 he was a trifle dogmatic in his criticism4 ,the young woman had the making of an opera singer4 ,what a ,fricka1 ,brangaene1 ,ortrud1 ,sieglinde1 ,erda1 this clever girl might become6 ,she was musical1 she was dramatic in temperament--he let his imagination run away with him4 ,she only sang an ,oberbayerische yodel1 and1 while her voice was not very high1 she contrived a falsetto that made her ,english listener shiver4 ,this yodel seemed to him as thrilling as the ,ho yo to ho6 of ,brunnhilde as she rushes over the rocky road to ,valhall4 ,la la liriti6 ,la la lirita6 ,hallali6 chirped ,rselein1 with a final flourish that positively enthralled ,hugh ,krayne4 ,he applauded1 beating with his stick upon the table1 his face flushed by emotion4 ,decidedly this girl was worth the visit to ,marienbad4 ,and he noted with delight that ,frulein ,gich had left the stage4 ,basket in hand1 she went from table to table1 selling pictures and programmes and collecting admission fees4 ,at last he would be able to speak with the enchantress1 for he prided himself on the purity of his ,german4 ,smiling until she reached his table1 she suddenly became serious when she saw this big ,englishman in the plaid suit and red necktie4 ,again he felt the imploring glance1 the soft lips parted in childish supplication4 ,it was too much for his nerves4 ,he tossed into her basket a gold piece1 grabbed at random some pictures1 and as her beseeching expression deepened1 her eyes moist with wonder and gratitude1 he tugged at a ring on his corpulent finger1 and1 wrenching it free1 presented it to her with a well-turned phrase1 adding3-- ,thou hast the making of a great singer in thee1 ,frulein ,rselein4 ,i wish ,i could help thee to fame6 ,the girl gave him an incredulous stare1 then reddening1 the muscles on her full neck standing out1 she ran like a hare back to her companions4 ,evidently he had made an impression4 ,the honest folk about him who witnessed the little encounter fairly brimmed over with gossip4 ,the stout basso moved slowly to ,krayne1 who braced himself for trouble4 ,now for it6 he whispered to himself1 and grasped his walking-stick firmly4 ,but1 hat in hand1 his visitor1 a handsome blond man1 approached and thanked ,hugh for his generosity4 ,he was a lover of music1 the yodler assured him1 and his wife and himself felt grateful for the interest he displayed in ,frulein ,rselein1 his wife's sister4 ,yes1 she had a remarkable voice4 ,what a pity--but wouldn't the gentleman attend the concert to be given that evening up at the ,caf ,alm8 ,it was1 to be sure1 rather far1 the caf1 but the moon would be up and if he could find his way there he might do the company the honour of coming back with them4 ,the ,frulein would sing a lot for him--,bohemian1 ,tyrolean1 ,french1 and ,german songs4 ,ah1 she was versatile6 ,the man did not speak like a peasant1 and seemed a shrewd1 pleasant fellow4 ,hugh ,krayne1 in excellent though formal ,german1 assured the other of his pleasure and accepted the invitation4 ,then he looked over at ,rselein1 who stood on the stage1 and as he did so she waved a crimson handkerchief at him as a friendly sign4 ,he took off his hat1 touched significantly his own tie to indicate a reciprocity of sentiment1 and all aglow he ordered a third cup of coffee4 ,the cure could take care of itself4 ,man lebt nur einmal6 ,,ii ,on his way to the ,alm he met the fattest man in ,marienbad1 a former chef of the ,german emperor1 and gave him a friendly salute4 ,he liked to see this monster1 who made the scales groan at six hundred pounds1 more than double his own weight1 for it put him at ease with himself4 ,but this evening he felt uncomfortable4 ,what if he were to reach such a climax in adiposity ,what if in the years to come he should be compelled1 as was the unfortunate man from ,berlin1 to sit on a chair every five minutes1 a chair carried by an impudent boy6 ,what--here his heart sank--if the ,frulein should mock his size6 ,he walked so rapidly at this idea that other victims of rotundity stopped to look at his tall figure and nodded approval4 ,ach6 ,marienbad was wonderful6 ,after he had found a seat at the ,alm next to the low wall1 across which he could see a vast stretch of undulating country1 lighted by a moon that seemed to swing like a silver hoop in the sky1 ,krayne ordered ,pilsner4 ,he was fatigued by the hilly scramble and he was thirsty4 ,oh1 the lovely thirst of ,marienbad--who that hath not been within thy hospitable gates he knoweth it not6 ,the magic of the night was making of him a poet4 ,he could see his ,tyrolean friends behind the glass partition of the little hall4 ,there would they sing1 not in the open4 ,it was nearly the same1 for presently the windows were raised and their voices came floating out to him1 the bourdon of ,rselein's organ easily distinguishable4 ,love had sharpened his ears4 ,he drained his glass and sent for another4 ,he felt that he was tumbling down an abyss of passion and that nothing in the world could save him4 ,the intermission6 ,he stood up to attract the attention of ,herr ,johan ,prger4 ,rselein saw him and at once neared him1 but without the basket4 ,this delicacy pleased ,krayne very much4 ,it showed him that he was not on the same footing as the public4 ,he made the girl take a seat1 and though he felt the eyes of the crowd upon him1 he was not in the least concerned4 ,london was far away and the season was too young for the annual rush of his compatriots4 ,would the ,frulein take something8 ,she accepted coffee1 which she drank from a long glass with plenty of milk and sugar4 ,she again gazed at him with such a resigned expression that he felt his starched cuffs grow warm from their contiguity to his leaping pulses4 ,yes1 ,frulein1 he said1 employing the familiar du1 thou hast overcome me4 ,why not accept my offer8 ,was this the prudent ,hugh ,krayne talking8 ,she smiled sweetly and shook her head4 ,her voice was delicious in colour and intonation1 nor did it betray humble origin4 ,i fear1 dear sir1 that what you offer is impossible4 ,my sister1 the soprano1 would never hear of such a thing4 ,my brother1 her husband1 would not allow it4 ,and ,i owe them my living1 my education4 ,how could ,i repay them if ,i left them now8 she hesitated4 ,simply enough4 ,you would be a singer at the opera some day1 and take them all to live with you4 ,is there no other reason8 ,he recollected with a vivid sense of the disagreeable the lively antics of a lithe youth in the company1 who1 at the close of the concert1 executed with diabolic dexterity what they called a ,schuhplattltanz4 ,this dance had glued ,krayne's attention1 for ,rselein was the young tenor singer's partner4 ,with their wooden sabots they clattered and sang1 waving wildly their arms or else making frantic passages of pretended love and coquetry4 ,it upset the ,englishman to see the impudence of this common peasant fellow grasping ,rselein by the waist1 as he whirled her about in the boorish dance4 ,hence the clause to his question4 ,she endured his inquiring gaze1 as she simply answered3-- ,no1 there is no other reason4 ,she put her hand on the arm of her companion and the lights suddenly became misty1 for he was of an apoplectic tendency4 ,they talked of music1 of the opera in ,vienna and ,prague4 ,she was born in ,bavaria1 not more than a day's ride from ,marienbad4 ,you could almost see her country from the top of the ,podhornberg1 in the direction of the ,franconian ,mountains1 not far from ,bayreuth4 ,the place was called ,schnabelwaid1 and it was very high1 very windy4 ,since her tenth year she had been singing--yes1 even in the chorus at the ,vienna opera1 with her sister and brother4 ,they were no common yodlers4 ,they could sing all the music of the day4 ,the yodling was part of their business1 as was the costume4 ,later1 when she had enough saved1 she would study in ,vienna for grand opera6 ,he was enraptured4 ,how romantic it all was6 ,a free-born maiden--he was certain she was reared in some old castle--wandering about earning money for her musical education4 ,what a picture for a painter6 ,what a story for a novelist6 ,they were interrupted4 ,the dancer1 a young man with a heavy shock of hair growing low on his forehead1 under which twinkled beady black eyes1 had been sent to tell ,frulein ,rselein that her colleagues were waiting for her4 ,with a courtesy she went away4 ,krayne now thoroughly hated the dancer4 ,it was long after eleven when the concert was over and the party started on its homeward trip4 ,krayne and ,rselein walked behind the others1 and soon the darkness and the narrowness of the road forced him to tread after the girl4 ,the moon's rays at intervals pierced the foliage1 making lacelike patches of light in the gloom4 ,at times they skirted the edges of a circular clearing and saw the high pines fringing the southern horizon2 overhead the heavens were almost black1 except where great streams of stars swept in irregular bands4 ,it was a glorious sight1 ,krayne told ,rselein--too sublime to be distracted by mere mortal love-making1 he mentally added4 ,nevertheless he was glad when they were again in the woods2 he could barely distinguish the girl ahead of him1 but her outline made his heart beat faster4 ,once1 as they neared the town1 he helped her down a declivity into the roadway1 and he could not help squeezing her hand4 ,the pressure was returned4 ,he boldly placed her arm within his1 and they at last reached the streets1 but not before1 panting with mingled fright and emotion1 he solemnly kissed her4 ,she did not appear surprised4 ,call me ,rsie--thou6 she murmured1 and her navet brought the ready tears to his eyes4 ,they made a rendezvous for the next morning on the ,promenade ,platz4 ,the only thing he did not like was the scowling face of the dancer when he said good night to the others under the electric lights of the ,kreuzbrunnen4 ,he was correct1 then1 in his premonition4 ,that night ,hugh ,krayne dreamed he was a very skeleton for thinness--not an unusual vision of fat men--and also a ,tyrolean yodler1 displaying himself before a huge audience of gigantic human beings1 who laughed so loudly that he could not open his lips to frame the familiar words of his song4 ,in the despair of a frantic nightmare1 his face streaming with anguished tears1 he forced his voice3-- ,la1 la1 liriti6 ,la1 la1 larita6 ,hallali6 ,then he awoke in triumph4 ,was he not a yodler8 ,,iii ,he told her of his dream and strange ambition4 ,she did not discourage him4 ,it could be settled easily enough4 ,why not join the company and take a few lessons8 ,with such a teacher8 he had exclaimed1 and his gesture was so impassioned that the promenaders1 with their shining morning goblets of water1 were arrested by the spectacle4 ,wonderful1 wonderful ,marienbad6 was the general comment6 ,but ,krayne was past ridicule4 ,he already saw ,rselein his bride4 ,he saw himself a yodler4 ,the cure8 ,ay1 there was the rub4 ,he laid bare his heart4 ,she aided him with her cool advice4 ,she was very sensible4 ,her brother-in-law and her sister would welcome him in their household1 for he was a lover of music and his intentions were honourable4 ,of course1 he sighed1 of course1 and fingered his red tie4 ,why not1 she argued1 remain at ,marienbad for three weeks more and complete his cure8 ,anyhow1 he was not so stout6 ,she looked up at him archly4 ,again he saw mist4 ,that settled it4 ,for another three weeks he lived in a cloud of expectation1 of severe training1 long walks1 dieting1 and ,turkish baths4 ,no man worked harder4 ,and he was rewarded by seeing his flesh melt away a pound or two daily4 ,when the company returned after its itinerary in the neighbourhood ,rsie was surprised to meet a man who did not weigh much over two hundred pounds1 healthy1 vigorous1 and at least five years younger in appearance4 ,she was very much touched4 ,so was her sister4 ,there was a family consultation1 and despite the surly opposition of the dancer1 ,hugh ,krayne was welcomed as a member of the ,prger ,bavarian ,sextette company4 ,forgetting the future he had arranged for ,rsie1 he began his vocal lessons immediately4 ,in ,july he sang for the first time in public at ,eger4 ,he was extremely frightened1 but as it was only a duo he managed fairly well4 ,then he sang at ,tepl1 this time alone4 ,his voice broke badly in the yodel and he was jeered by a rude audience4 ,he had grown very much thinner4 ,his doctor warned him against continuing the waters1 and advised rice1 potatoes1 and ale1 but he did not listen4 ,he now paid the bills of the company while travelling4 ,rsie had confessed with tears that they were fearfully poor4 ,from that time he handed her his purse4 ,he even placated the jealous dancer with a gold watch and a box of hair pomade4 ,ah6 how he loathed the fellow's curly locks1 his greasy familiarities6 ,rsie told him this acrobat was necessary in the company until he could be replaced4 ,already ,hugh--she called him --could yodel better4 ,some day he might1 when thinner1 dance better4 ,perhaps--again that appealing glance1 the corner of her lips faintly touched by the mysterious smile of a ,monna ,lisa4 ,krayne redoubled his arduous training1 practised yodling in the forests1 danced jigs on the pine-needles1 and doubled his allowance of the waters4 ,they went to ,carlsbad4 ,he yodled4 ,he was applauded4 ,the dancer was in a fine rage4 ,although ,krayne had asked ,rsie to buy a first-class compartment on the railroad trip over and back1 they went in a third-class car4 ,prger declared that it was good enough for him1 and he didn't wish to spoil his troupe6 ,his wife now held the purse-strings1 as ,rsie was too engrossed with her art and ,hugh too absorbed in his love to notice such mere sublunary matters4 ,the girl had promised nothing positive for the future4 ,she kept him on the brittle edge of nervous expectation4 ,the opposition of the dancer had been successfully met by threats of dismissal2 ,hugh continued to lose flesh and gain in vocal and pedal agility4 ,he danced for the first time at ,knigswart1 not far from the chteau of the ,metternichs4 ,it was ,august4 ,so great was the applause that the younger dancer was discharged4 ,he left with muttered threats of vengeance4 ,the next day ,krayne turned over all his business affairs to the able hand of ,frau ,prger2 he lived only for ,rsie and his art4444 ,september was at hand4 ,the weather was so warm and clear1 that the king of ,england deferred his departure for a few days4 ,one afternoon1 just before the leaves began to brown on the hills1 there was a concert at the garden of the ,hotel ,bellevue4 ,the royal party attended4 ,the yodling was much praised1 especially that of a good-looking young woman and her escort1 a very tall man of cadaverous aspect1 his shanks like the wooden stilts of the shepherds on the ,bordeaux ,landes4 ,his face1 preternaturally emaciated and fatigued1 opened to emit an amazing yodel4 ,when the ,schuhplattltanz was reached he surprised the audience by an extraordinary exhibition4 ,he threw his long legs about like billiard cues1 while his arms flapped as do windmills in a hard gale4 ,he was pointed out as a celebrity--once a monster ,englishman1 who had taken the ,kur2 who was in love1 but so poor that he could not marry4 ,the girl with him was certain to make a success in grand opera some day4 ,yes1 ,marienbad was proud of ,krayne4 ,he was one of her show sons1 a witness to her curative powers4 ,proud also of the ,bavarian ,prger ,sextette4 ,herr ,prger was reputed a rich man4444 ,the night of that concert ,marienbad saw the last of the ,bavarian sextette1 which at midnight1 joined by its old dancer with the tenor voice1 left in a third-class carriage for ,vienna4 ,hugh ,krayne1 not possessing enough to pay his passage1 had not been invited2 nor was he informed of the sudden departure until a day later4444 99 99 99 99 99 ,on the road to the ,alm1 of moonlight nights1 toiling visitors catch glimpses of a human1 almost a skeleton1 dressed in rags1 his head bare as his feet1 about his neck a flaming crimson handkerchief4 ,he is known to ,marienbders as ,the ,man ,who ,stayed ,too ,long4 ,he never addresses passers-by2 but as they lose sight of him they hear the woods resound with his elegiac howl3-- ,la la liriti6 ,la la lirita6 ,hallali6 ,x ,,the ,,third ,,kingdom ,i ,a ,,doubter ,brother ,hyzlo sat in his cell and read4 ,the gentle stillness of a rare spring morning enveloped him with its benison4 ,and the clear light fell upon the large pages of a book in his hand1--the window through which it streamed was the one link between the young recluse and the life of the world4 ,from it he could see the roofs of the city beneath him2 when he so wished1 he might1 without straining his gaze1 distinguish the ,pantheon at the end of that triumphal avenue which spanned the ,seine and had once evoked for him visions of antique splendour4 ,but ,brother ,hyzlo no longer cared for mundane delights4 ,his doubting soul was the battle-field over which he ranged day and night searching for diabolic opponents4 ,exterior existence had become for him a shadow2 the only life worth living was that of the spirit4 ,in his book that fresh spring morning he read as if in the flare of a passing meteor these disquieting words3-- ,how were it if1 some day or night1 a demon stole after thee into thy most solitary solitude1 and said to thee3 ',this life1 as thou livest it now1 and hast lived it1 thou shalt have to live over again1 and not once but innumerable times2 and there will be nothing new in it1 but every pain and every pleasure and every thought and sigh1 and everything in thy life1 the great and the unspeakably petty alike1 must come again to thee1 and all in the same series and succession2 this spider1 too1 and this moonlight betwixt the trees and this moment likewise and ,i myself4 ,the eternal sand-glass of time is always turned again1 and thou with it1 thou atom of dust'8 ,wouldst thou not cast thyself down and with gnashing of teeth curse the demon who thus spoke8 ,or1 hast thou ever experienced the tremendous moment in which thou wouldst answer him3 ',thou art a god and never heard ,i anything more divine'8 ,the book slipped from his hands4 ,why not8 he murmured1 why not8 ,there is no such thing as chance4 ,the law of probabilities is not a mere fancy1 but an austere need4 ,matter is ever in evolution4 ,energy alone is indestructible4 ,radium has revealed this to us4 ,in eternity when the ,infinite throws the dice1 double-sixes are sure to come up more than once4 ,miracles8 ,but why miraculous8 ,infinity of necessity must repeat itself1 and then ,i1 sitting here now1 will sit here again1 sit and doubt the goodness of ,god1 ay1 doubt ,his existence4444 ,how horrible6 ,he paused in the whirl of his thoughts4 ,yet how beautiful1 for if the eternal recurrence be truth1 then must the great drama of the ,redemption be repeated4 ,then will our foes be convinced of ,christianity and its reality4 ,but shall we be conscious in that far-off time of our anterior existence8 ,ah6 hideous1 coiling doubt4 ,what a demon is this ,nietzsche to set whirring in the brains of poor1 suffering humanity such torturing questions6 ,better1 far better for the world to live and not to think4 ,thought is a disease1 a morbid secretion of the brain-cells4 ,ah6 materialist that ,i am1 ,i can no longer think without remembering the ideas of ,cabanis1 that gross atheist4 ,why am ,i punished so8 ,what crimes have ,i committed in a previous existence--,karma1 again6--that ,i must perforce study the writings of impious men8 ,yet ,i submitted myself as a candidate for the task1 to save my brethren in ,christ from soiling their hearts4 ,heaven preserve me from the blight of spiritual pride1 but ,i believe that ,i am now a scapegoat for the offences of my fellow-monks1 and1 thus1 may redeem my own wretched soul4 ,ah6 ,nietzsche--,antichrist4 ,he arose and threw the volume across his cell4 ,then going to the window regarded with humid gaze the world that sprawled below him in the voluptuous sunshine4 ,but so sternly was the inner eye fixed on the things of the spirit that he soon turned away from the delectable picture1 and as he did so his glance rested upon a crucifix4 ,he started1 his perturbed imagination again touched4 ,what if ,nietzsche were right8 ,the first ,christian1 the only ,christian1 died on the cross1 he has said4 ,what an arraignment of our precious faith1 ,jesus ,christ1 our ,lord ,god6 ,what sweet names are ,thine6 ,how could ,nietzsche not feel the music of that ,hebrew-,greek combination8 ,perhaps he did2 perhaps he masked a profound love behind his hatred4 ,jesus our ,lord6 ,hebrew-,greek4 ,but why ,greek8 ,why 4448 ,another pause in this sequestered chamber where the buzzing of an insect could assume a thunderous roar4 ,the eternal return4 ,why should ,christ return8 ,must the earth be saved again and again and a billion times again8 ,awful thought of a ,god descending to a horrible death to cleanse the nameless myriads from sins which they seek ever as flies treacle4 ,more ghastly still is the thought that the atheist ,scandinavian put into the mouth of his ,julian the ,apostate3 ,when our ,christ is not saving this earth from eternal damnation then he may be visiting remote planets or inaccessible stars1 where coloured double suns of blinding brilliancy revolve terrifically in twin harness4 ,there1 too1 are souls to be rescued4 ,what a grand idea6 ,it is ,ibsen's1 as is the interpretation of the ,third ,kingdom4 ,it should have been ,nietzsche's4 ,why this antinomianism8 ,why this eternal conflict of evil and good1 of night and day1 of sweet and sour1 of ,god and devil1 of ,ormuzd and ,ahriman8 ,the exotic names transposed his thoughts to another avenue4 ,if ,christ is to come again1 and the holy word explicitly states that ,he will1 why not ,buddha8 ,why not ,brahma8 ,why not 4448 ,again a hiatus4 ,this time something snapped in his head4 ,he sank back in his chair4 ,buddha6 ,was there ever a ,buddha8 ,and if there was not1 was there ever such a personality as ,christ's8 ,scholar that he was he knew that myth-building was a pastime for the ,asiatic imagination1 great1 impure1 mysterious ,asia--,asia the mother of all religions1 the cradle of the human race4 ,to deny the objective existence of ,christ would set at rest all his doubts1 one overwhelming doubt swallowing the minor doubts4 ,he had never speculated at length upon the ,christ legend1 for did not ,renan1 yes1 that silky heretic1 believe in the personality of ,jesus1 believe and lovingly portray it8 ,the ,nietzsche doctrine of the eternal recurrence had so worked upon his sensitive mental apparatus that he could have almost denied the existence of ,christ rather than deny that our universe repeats itself infinitely4 ,eternity is a wheel1 earthly events are the spokes of this whirring wheel4 ,it was the seeming waste of divine material that shocked his nerves4 ,one crucifixion--yes2 but two or two quintillions and infinitely more6 ,brother ,hyzlo stared at the crucifix4 ,was it only a symbol1 as some learned blasphemers averred8 ,the human figure so painfully extended upon it was a ,god1 a ,god who descended from high heaven to become a shield between the wrath of ,his ,father and humanity4 ,why8 ,why should the ,god who created us grow angry with our shortcomings8 ,we are ,his handiwork4 ,are we then to blame for our imperfections8 ,is not ,jesus1 instead of a mediator1 rather a votive offering to the wounded vanity of the great ,jehovah8 ,was not ,prometheus--a light broke in upon ,hyzlo4 ,prometheus1 a myth1 ,buddha a myth4 ,all myths4 ,there were other virgin-born saviours4 ,krishna1 ,mithra1 ,buddha4 ,vishnu had not one but nine incarnations4 ,christianity bears alarming resemblances to ,mithraism4 ,mithra1 too1 was born in a cave4 ,the dates of ,christ's birth and death may be astronomical3 the winter and vernal equinoxes4 ,but the conflict of the authorities regarding these dates is mortifying4 ,the four gospels are in reality four witnesses warring against each other4 ,they were selected haphazard at a human council4 ,they were not composed until the latter part of the second century1 and the synoptic gospels are compilations from unknown writers1 while the fourth gospel is a much later work4 ,and how colourless1 imitative1 is the ,new when compared to the ,old ,testament1--echoing with the antiphonal thunders of ,jehovah and his stern-mouthed ,prophets6 ,the passage in ,josephus touching on ,christ is now known to have been interpolated4 ,authentic history does not record the existence of ,christ4 ,not one of ,his contemporaries mentions him4 ,that tremendous drama in ,galilee was not even commented upon by the ,romans1 a nation keen to notice any deviation from normal history4 ,the ,jewish records are doubtful1 written centuries after ,his supposed death4 ,and they are malicious4 ,what cannot happen in two centuries8 ,hyzlo reflected sadly upon ,moslemism1 upon ,mormonism1 upon the vagaries of a strange ,american sect at whose head was said to be a female pope4 ,the similarity of circumstances in the lives of ,buddha and ,christ also annoyed him4 ,both were born of virgins1 both renounced the world1 both were saviours4 ,there were the same temptations1 the same happenings2 prophecies1 miracles1 celestial rejoicings1 a false disciple1 the seven beatitudes--a reflection of the ,oriental wisdom--an expiatory death and resurrection4 ,the entire machinery of the ,christian church1 its saints1 martyrs1 festivals1 ritual1 and philosophies are borrowed from the mythologies of the pagans4 ,sun-worship is the beginning of all religions4 ,to the genius of the epileptic ,paul1 or ,saul1--founders of religions are always epilepts1--a half ,greek and disciple of the ,pharisee ,gamaliel1 who saw visions and put to the sword his enemies1 to ,paul1 called a saint1 a man of overwhelming personal force1 to this cruel anarchist1 relentless1 half-mad fanatic and his theological doctrines we owe the preservation and power of the ,christian ,church4 ,at first the ,christians were the miserable offscourings of society1 slaves1 criminals1 and lunatics4 ,they burrowed in the ,catacombs1 they fastened themselves upon a decaying and magnificent civilization like the parasites they were4 ,a series of political catastrophes1 a popular uprising against the rotten emperors of decadent ,rome1 and the wide growth of the socialist idea--these things and an unscrupulous man1 ,constantine the ,great1 put the ,christians firmly in the saddle4 ,and soon came cataracts of blood4 ,if the tales of the imperial persecutions are true1 then hath ,christianity been revenged a million fold2 where her skirt has trailed there has been the cruel stain of slaughter4 ,it must not be forgotten1 too1 that immorality of the grossest sort was promised the deluded sectarians1 compared with which the ,mahometan paradise is spiritual4 ,and the end of the world was predicted at the end of every century1 and finally relegated to the millennial celebration of ,christianity's birth4 ,when1 in #ajjj ,a4,d41 this catastrophe did not occur1 the faith received its first great shock4 ,he summoned to his memory a cloud of witnesses1 all contradictory4 ,josephus was barred4 ,philo ,judus1 who was living near the centre of things1 an observer on the scent of the spiritual1 a man acquainted with the writings of ,rabbi ,hillel1 and the father of ,neoplatonism--never mentions ,jesus1 nor does he speak of any religious uprising in ,judea4 ,the passage in ,virgil1 which has through the doubtful testimony of monkish writers been construed into a prophecy of a forthcoming ,messiah1 ,hyzlo1 who was a scholar1 knew to have been addressed to a son of ,virgil's intimate friend4 ,tacitus1 too1 has been interpolated4 ,seneca's ideal man is not ,jesus1 for ,jesus is ,osiris1 ,horus1 ,krishna1 ,mithra1 ,hercules1 ,adonis1--think of this beautiful young god's death6--,buddha4 ,such a mock trial and death could not have taken place under the ,roman or ,jewish laws4 ,the sacraments derive from the ,greeks1 from the ,indians--the mysteries of ,ceres and ,bacchus1 from the ,haoma sacrifice of the ,persians1 originally ,brahmanic4 ,the ,trinity1 was it not a relic of that ineradicable desire for polytheism implanted in the human bosom8 ,was the crucifixion but a memory of those darker cults and blood sacrifices of ,asia1 and also of the expiating goats sent out into the wilderness8 ,what became of that ,hosanna-shouting crowd which welcomed ,christ on ,palm ,sunday8 ,and there never were such places as ,gethsemane and ,calvary4 ,alas6 the ,son of ,man had indeed no spot to lay his head4 ,and why had ,he made no sign when on earth6 ,brother ,hyzlo wept bitter tears4 ,but he wiped them away as he considered the similarity of the massacre of the ,innocents in ,judea and the massacre of the male children ordered by the wicked ,indian ,rajah of ,madura1 who feared the ,krishna1 just conceived by divine agency4 ,yes1 the chronicles were full of these gods born of virgins1 of crucifixions1--he could remember sixteen1--of these solar myths4 ,he caught tripping in a thousand cases the translations of our holy books4 ,the ,ox and ,ass legend at the ,nativity he realized was the ,pseudo-,matthew's description to ,habakkuk of the literal presence3 ,in the midst of two animals thou shalt be known2 which is a mistranslated ,hebrew text in the ,prayer ascribed to ,habakkuk4 ,it got into the ,greek ,septuagint version of the ,prophet made by ,egyptian ,jews before #aej ,b4,c4 ,it should read1 in the midst of the years1 not animals4 ,ah6 cried ,hyzlo1 in this as in important cardinal doctrines have the faithful been the slaves of the learned and unscrupulous pious forgers4 ,even the notorious ,apollonius of ,tyana imitated the miracles of ,christ--all of them4 ,and what of that wicked wizard1 ,simon ,magus8 ,the very repetition of these miracles in all races1 at all epochs1 pointed to the doctrine of recurrence4 ,but back of all the negations1 back of the inexpugnable proof that no such man or ,god as ,christ existed1 or was known to his contemporaries1 ,jewish and ,roman1 there must have been some legend which had crystallized into a mighty religion4 ,was ,he an agitator who preferred ,his obscurity that ,his glory might be all the greater8 ,there must have been a beginning to the myth2 behind the gospels--though they are obviously imitated from the older testaments1 imitated and diluted--were unknown writings2 previous to these there was word of mouth and--and 4448 ,the day had advanced1 the sun was very warm4 ,a shaft of light fell upon the cold stone floor1 and in its fiery particles darted myriads of motes4 ,hyzlo followed their spiral flights1 thinking all the while of humanity which flashes from out the dark void1 plays madly in the light1 only to vanish into the unknown night4 ,his gaze was held by the smoothness of the flagging at his feet4 ,then it became transformed into marble1 the walls of his cell widened1 and he closed his eyes1 so blinding were the long ladders of light4444 ,,ii ,,two ,,dreamers ,he opened them 444 the harbour with its army of galleys and pleasure craft lay in the burning sunshine1 its surface a sapphire blue4 ,overhead the sky echoed this tone1 which modulated into deeper notes of purple on the far-away hills whose tops were wreathed in mist4 ,under his sandalled feet was marble1 back of him were the gleaming spires and towers of the great city1 and at his left was a mountain of shining marble1 the ,pharos4 ,alexandria8 he called out as he was jostled by a melon-seller1 and startled by the fluted invitations of a young girl--an antique statue come to life4 ,of course it is ,alexandria1 replied a deep1 harsh voice at his elbow4 ,he turned4 ,it was his friend ,philo4 ,you have at last emerged from your day-dream1 ,hyzlo6 ,i thought1 as our bark clove the water1 that you were enjoying visions4 ,and it seemed to ,hyzlo that he had just awakened from a bizarre dream of a monastic cell1 to more beautiful sights and shapes and sounds4 ,the pair now traversed the quay1 past the signal masts1 the fortified towers1 pushing through the throng of sailors1 courtesans1 philosophers1 fruitsellers1 soldiers1 beggars1 and idle rich toward the spacious city4 ,past the palace to the wall of the ,canal1 along the banks of the ,royal ,port1 they finally struck into a broad1 deserted avenue4 ,at its head was a garden wall4 ,philo introduced himself and his companion through a low door and presently they were both in an apartment full of parchments1 glittering brass and gold instruments all reposing on a wide1 long table4 ,hyzlo1 said the ,jewish philosopher1 in his slightly accented ,greek1 ,i have long promised you that ,i would reveal to you my secret1 my life work4 ,i am downcast by sadness4 ,rome is full of warring cults1 ,greek1 ,african1 ,babylonian1 ,buddhistic2 the writings of the great teachers1 the masters1 ,heraclitus1 ,zeno1 ,anaxagoras1 ,plato1 ,socrates1 ,epictetus1 ,seneca1 are overlaid with heretical emendations4 ,the religion of my fellow-countrymen is a fiery furnace1 ,jerusalem a den of warring thieves4 ,the rulers of earth are weary and turn a deaf ear on their peoples4 ,the time is ripe for revolt4 ,sick of the accursed luxury and debauchery1 fearful of the threatening barbarians from ,asia and the boreal regions1 who are hemming the civilized world1 waiting like vultures for the first sign of weakness to destroy everything1 the slaves in revolt--all these impending terrors assure me that the end of the old order is at hand4 ,but what will become of the new if there is no central belief to steady the ensanguined hands of furious mobs8 ,for years ,i have bethought me of a drama1 a gigantic world-drama which shall embody all the myths of mankind1 all the noblest thoughts of the philosophers4 ,i shall take the ,buddha myth1 surely the supreme myth1 and transpose its characters to ,jerusalem4 ,a humble ,jew shall be my ,buddha4 ,he shall be my revenge on our conquerors2 for my people have been trampled upon by the insolent ,romans1 and who knows--a ,jewish ,god1 a crucified ,god1 may be worshipped in the stead of ,jupiter and his vile pantheon of gods and goddesses6 ,one ,god1 the son of ,jahveh who comes upon earth to save mankind1 is crucified and killed1 is resurrected and like ,elijah is caught up to heaven in a fiery chariot4 ,but you know the usual style of these ,asiatic legends6 ,they are all alike2 a virgin birth1 a miraculous life1 and transfiguration4 ,that sums up myths from ,adonis to ,krishna1 from ,krishna to ,buddha2 though ,monotheism comes from the ,hebrews1 the ,trinity from the ,indians1 and the logos was developed by ,plato4 ,where ,i am original is that ,i make my hero a ,jew--the ,jews are still half-cracked enough to believe in the coming of a ,messiah4 ,and to compass a fine dramatic moment ,i have introduced an incident ,i once witnessed in ,alexandria at the landing of ,king ,agrippa1 when the populace dressed up a vagabond named ,karabas as a mock king and stuck upon his head papyrus leaves for a crown1 in his hand a reed for a sceptre1 and then saluted him as king4 ,i shall make my ,jew-,god seized by the ,jews1 his own blood and kin1 given over to the ,romans1 mocked1 reviled1 and set aside for some thief who shall be called ,karabas4 ,then1 rejected1 he shall be crucified1 he a god born of a virgin1 by the very people who are looking for their ,messiah4 ,he is their ,messiah2 yet they know it not4 ,they shall never know it4 ,that shall be their tragedy1 the tragedy of my race1 which1 notwithstanding the prophecies1 turned its back upon the ,messiah because he came not clothed in the purple of royalty4 ,is that not a magnificent idea for a drama8 ,excellent1 answered ,hyzlo1 in a critical tone2 but continue6 ,you seem without enthusiasm1 ,hyzlo4 ,i tell you that schylus1 ,sophocles1 or ,euripides never conceived a story more infinitely dramatic or pathetic1 or--thanks to my ,hebraic blood--so suffused with tragic irony4 ,i shall make a very effective tableau at the death2 on some forbidding stony hill near ,jerusalem ,i shall plant my crucified hero1 and near him a converted courtesan--ah6 what a master of the theatre ,i am6--in company with a handful of faithful disciples4 ,the others have run away to save their cowardly skins in the tumult4 ,the mobs that hailed him as ,king of the ,jews now taunt him1 after the manner of all mobs4 ,his early life ,i shall borrow outright from the ,buddha legends4 ,he shall be born of a virgin2 he shall live in the desert2 as a child he shall confute learned doctors in the temple2 and later in the desert he shall be tempted by a demon4 ,all this is at hand4 ,my chief point is the philosophies in which ,i shall submerge my characters4 ,my hero shall be the logos of ,heraclitus with the superadded authority of the ,hebrew high priest4 ,you may recall the fact that ,i greatly admire the ,essenes and their system4 ,my deity is a pure essence2 not ,jehovah the protector or avenger4 ,the logos1 or mediator1 ,i have borrowed from the writings of the ,greek philosophers4 ,this logos returns to the bosom of ,god after the sacrifice4 ,greek philosophy combined with ,hebraic moral principles6 ,ah6 it is grand synthesis2 ,seneca with his conception of a perfected humanity1 ,lucretius1 ,manlius--who called1 rightfully too1 ,epicurus a god--and ,heraclitus with the first idea of a logos3 all these ancient ideas ,i have worked into my romantic play1 including the old cult of the ,trinities2 the ,buddhistic3 ,buddha1 ,dharma1 and ,saingha2 the ,chinese3 ,heaven1 ,earth1 and ,emperor2 the ,babylonian3 ,ea1 the father1 ,marduk1 the son1 and the ,fire ,god1 ,gibil1 who is also the ,paraclete4 ,so my philosophy is merely a continuation and modification of that taught by ,heraclitus and ,plato1 but with a ,jewish background--for mine is the only moral nation4 ,the wisdom of the ,rabbis1 their ,monotheism and ethics1 are all there4 ,his eyes were ablaze4 ,you are very erudite1 ,philo ,judus6 exclaimed his listener2 but1 tell me1 is there no actual foundation for your ,jewish god8 ,hyzlo eagerly awaited a reply1 though he could not account for this curiosity4 ,yes1 answered ,philo1 lightly1 there is1 ,i freely acknowledge1 a slight foundation4 ,some years ago in ,jerusalem they arrested a poverty-stricken fanatic1 the son of a ,jewess4 ,his father was said to have been an indigent and aged carpenter4 ,this ,joshua1 or ,ieshua1 was driven out of ,jerusalem1 and he took refuge among a lot of poor fishermen on ,lake ,gennesareth4 ,there he joined a sect called the ,baptists1 because their founder1 a socialist named ,ioakanaan1 poured water on the heads of the converted4 ,ieshua never married and was suspected of idolatrous practices1 which he had absorbed from hermits of the ,egyptian ,thebad4 ,josephus1 a wise friend and companion of my youth1 wrote me these details4 ,he said that ,ieshua disappeared after his mad attempt to take ,jerusalem by storm1 riding--as is depicted the ,bona ,dea--on the back of a humble animal4 ,yet1 if you wish to appeal to the common folk1 make your hero a deposed king or divinity1 who walks familiarly among the poor1 as walked the gods at the dawn of time with the daughters of men4 ,i depict my protagonist as a half-cracked ,jew4 ,i call him ,iesus ,christos--after ,krishna2 and this poor man's god proposes to redeem the world1 to place the lowly in the seats of the mighty--he is an ,anarchos1 as they would say in ,athens4 ,he promises the ,kingdom of ,god to those who follow him2 but only a few do4 ,he is the friend of outcasts1 prostitutes1 criminals4 ,and though he does not triumph on earth1 nevertheless he is the spiritual ruler of earth2 he is the ,son of the ,trinity which comprises the ,father and ,holy ,ghost4 ,the contending forces to my hero will be incarnated by ,pontius ,pilatus1 the ,roman governor1 and ,judas of ,kerioth1 a very dangerous and powerful ,hebrew politician--a man of very liberal ideas1 one who believed in the supremacy of the ,west4 ,what a glorious play it will make6 ,i have named it ,the ,third ,kingdom1 ,hyzlo4 ,what a glorious idea it is1 ,hyzlo--the greatest drama the world has ever witnessed6 ,,iii ,,the ,,dove ,the greatest drama the world has ever witnessed 444 mumbled his disciple4444 ,the sun still shone on the cold stone flagging1 and upon the wall facing him hung the crucifix4 ,but the motes no longer danced merrily in the light4 ,evening was setting in apace1 and ,hyzlo1 accepting one dream as equal in veracity with the other1 crossed to the embrasure and1 his elbows on the sill1 watched the sun--looking like a sulphur-coloured cymbal--sink behind the sky-line4 ,he was still in the same attitude when the blue of the heavens--ah6 but not that gorgeous1 hard ,alexandrian blue--melted into peacock and cool saffron hues4 ,he mused aloud3-- ,by the very nature of his mental organs man can never grasp reality4 ,it is always the sensation1 never the real thing1 he feels4 ,the metaphysicians are right4 ,we can never know the actual world outside of ourselves4 ,we are imprisoned in a dream cage2 the globe itself is a cage of echoes4 ,science1 instead of contradicting religion1 has but affirmed its truths4 ,matter is radiant energy--matter is electric phenomenon4 ,the germ-plasma from which we stem--the red clay of ,genesis--is eternal4 ,the individual is sacrificed to the species4 ,the species never dies4 ,and how beautifully logical is the order of our ancestry as demonstrated by the science of embryology4 ,fish1 batrachians1 reptiles1 mammals2 in which latter are included the marsupials as well as lemurs1 primates1 ,man4 ,and after what struggles ,man assumed an erect position and looked into the eyes of his mate6 ,after ,man8 ,nietzsche preaches that man is a link between the primate and ,superman2 ,superman--the angels6 ,but intelligence in man may be an accident caused by over-nutrition1 the brain developing from rich phosphors4 ,if this were so--how would fall to earth our house of pride6 ,are we so close to the animal8 ,but ,quinton proves that after man in the zological series comes the bird4 ,birds--half reptiles1 half angels4 ,angels6 ,do evolution and revelation meet here on common ground8 ,or was ,joachim1 the ,abbot of ,flores1 inspired when he wrote of the ,third ,kingdom1 that ,kingdom in which the empire of the flesh is swallowed up in the empire of the spirit2 that ,third ,kingdom in which the twin-natured shall reign1 as ,ibsen declares2 the ,messiah--neither ,emperor nor ,redeemer1 but the ,emperor-,god4 ,the slime shall become sap and the sap become spirit6 ,from gorilla to ,god6 ,man in the coming ,third ,kingdom may say3 ,i1 too1 am a god4 ,but is this not blasphemous8 ,and after the wheel of the universe has again revolved1 will ,i see1 as foresaw ,nietzsche1 the selfsame spider1 the same moonlight8 ,there is nothing new under the sun1 says ,ecclesiastes4 ,wretched man is never to know the entire truth but will be always at daggers drawn with his destiny4 ,after classic ,paganism came romantic ,christianity2 after the romantic will the pendulum swing back--or--alas6 is there coming another horde of atheists with a new ,attila at their head8 ,he threw himself before the crucifix and sobbed4 ,lord ,jesus1 ,our ,christ6 ,thou art the real ,christ and not the fiction of that supersubtle ,greek-,jewish and boastful philosopher in ,alexandria6 ,make for me1 ,o ,god1 a sign6 ,give me back in all its purity my faith2 faith1 noblest gift of all6 ,oh6 to hear once more the thrilling of the harps divine1 whereon the dawn plays1 those precursors of the ,eternal ,harmony6 ,gloria in ,excelsis4 ,he remained prostrate1 his heart no longer battered by doubts and swimming in blissful love for his crucified ,god4 ,the celestial hurricane subsided in his bosom2 he arose and again interrogated the heavens4 ,the stars in the profound splendours of the sky stared at him like the naked eyes of houris4 ,suddenly a vast white cloud sailed over the edge of the horizon and as it approached his habitation assumed the shape of a monstrous dove1 its fleecy wings moving in solemn rhythms4 ,in the resurgence of his hopes this apparition was the coveted sign from the ,almighty4 ,and flat upon the floor of his cell1 his face abased in the dust1 ,hyzlo worshipped in epileptic frenzy1 crying aloud1 after the manner of the sad-tongued ,preacher3-- ,the thing that hath been1 it is that which shall be6 ,,xi ,,the ,,haunted ,,harpsichord ,in the ,style of ,mock-,medival ,fiction ,i told ,michael to look sharply to his horse4 ,it was dusk2 a few bits of torn clouds1 unresolved modulations of nebulous lace1 trembled over the pink pit in the west1 wherein had sunk the sun2 and one evening star1 silver pointed1 told the tale of another spent day4 ,michael was surly1 ,i was impatient1 and the groom1 who lagged in the rear1 whistled softly2 but ,i knew that both men were tired and hungry1 and so were the horses4 ,the road1 hard and free from dust1 echoed the resilient hoof-falls of our beasts4 ,the early evening was finely cool1 for it was the month of ,september4 ,we had lost our way4 ,green fields on either side1 and before us the path declined down a steep slope1 that lost itself in huddled foliage4 ,michael spoke up3-- ,we are astray4 ,i knew this damnable excursion would lead to no good4 ,i gently chided him4 ,pooh1 you braggart6 ,even ,arnold1 who rides a brute a world too wide for him1 has not uttered a complaint4 ,brave ,michael1 if her ladyship heard you now6 ,his face grew hard as he muttered3-- ,her ladyship6 may all the saints in the calendar watch over her ladyship6 ,but ,i wish she had never taken you at your hot-headed word4 ,then we would not have launched upon this madcap adventure4 ,i grew stern4 ,her ladyship1 ,i bid you remember1 my worthy man1 is our mistress1 and it ill behooves you to question her commands1 especially in the presence of a groom4 ,michael growled1 and then the sudden turn in the road startled our horses on a gallop1 and for a quarter of an hour we thrashed our way ahead in the twilight4 ,we had entered a small thicket when an ejaculation from ,arnold--who had been riding abreast--brought us all up to a sharp standstill4 ,there's a light1 said the groom1 in a most tranquil manner1 pointing his heavy crop stick to the left4 ,how we had missed seeing the inn from the crest of the hill was strange4 ,a hundred yards away stood a low1 red-tiled house1 with lights burning downstairs1 and an unmistakable air of hostlery for man and beast4 ,we veered at once in our course1 and in a few minutes were hallooing for the host or the hostler4 ,now ,i hope that you are satisfied1 my friend1 ,i said exultantly to ,michael1 who only grunted as he swung off his animal4 ,arnold followed1 and soon we were chatting with an amiable old man in a white cap and apron1 who had run out of the house when we shouted4 ,amboise8 he answered me when ,i told him of our destination4 ,amboise2 why1 sirrah1 you are a good five leagues from ,amboise6 ,step within and remain here for the night4 ,i have plenty of convenience for you and your suite4 ,i glanced at ,michael1 but he was busily employed in loosening his pistols from the holster1 and ,arnold1 in company with a lame man1 led the horses to the stable4 ,there was little use in vain regrets4 ,the other had the start of the half-day1 and surely we could go no further that night4 ,i gritted my teeth as the little fat landlord led us into the house4 ,in half an hour we were smoking our pipes before a lively fire--the night had grown chilly--and enjoying silent recollections of a round of beef and several bottles of fortifying burgundy4 ,our groom had gone to bed1 and ,i soon saw that ,i could get nothing out of ,michael for the present4 ,he stared moodily into the fire4 ,i noticed that his pistols were handy4 ,the host came in and asked my permission to join us4 ,he felt lonely1 he explained1 for he was a widower1 and his only son was away in the world somewhere4 ,i was very glad to ease myself with gossip2 my heart was not quite at peace with this expedition of ours4 ,i knew what her ladyship asked of us was much1 so much that only a bold spirit and a thirst for the unknown could pardon the folly of the chase4 ,i bade the innkeeper to take a seat at the fire1 and soon we fell to chatting like ladies' maids4 ,he was a ,norman and curious as a cat4 ,he opened his inquiries delicately4 ,you have ridden far and fast to-day1 my sir4 ,your horses were all but done for4 ,yet there is no cloud of war in the sky and you are too far from ,paris to be honourable envoys4 ,i hope you like our country8 ,i dodged his tentative attempt at prying by asking him a question myself4 ,you don't seem to have many guests1 good host8 ,yet do ,i hardly wonder at it4 ,you are all but swallowed up in the green and too far from the main travelled road4 ,the little man sighed and said in sad accents3 ,too true1 yet the ,scarlet ,dragon was once a thriving place1 a fine money-breeding house4 ,before my son went away-- ,i interrupted him4 ,your son1 what is he1 and where is he now8 ,the other became visibly agitated and puffed at his pipe some minutes before replying4 ,alas6 worthy sir1 he said at last in a lower key1 my son dare not return here for reasons ,i cannot divulge4 ,indeed1 this was no cheerful house for the boy4 ,he had his ambitions and he left me to pursue them4 ,what does he do1 this youngster8 interrupted ,michael1 in his gruffest tones4 ,the landlord started4 ,indeed1 good sir1 ,i could not tell you1 for ,i know not myself4 ,humph6 grunted my sullen companion2 but ,i observed his suspicious little eyes fixed persistently on the man of the inn4 ,i turned the talk1 which had threatened to languish4 ,the old man did not relish the questions about his son1 and began deploring the poor crops4 ,at this juncture an indefinable feeling that we were losing time in stopping at this lonely place came over me4 ,i am not superstitious1 but ,i swear that ,i felt ill at ease and confused in my plans4 ,on bended knee ,i had sworn to my lady that ,i would bring back to her the fugitive unharmed1 and ,i would never return to her empty-handed1 confessing failure4 ,michael's queer behaviour disconcerted me4 ,from the outset of the chase he had turned sour and inaccessible1 and now he was so ill-tempered that ,i feared he would pick a quarrel at the slightest provocation with our host4 ,with a strange sinking at the heart ,i asked about our horses4 ,they will be attended to1 my sirs2 my servant is a good boy4 ,he is handy1 although he can't get about lively1 for he was thrown in a turnip field from our only donkey4 ,i was in no mood for this sort of chatter and quizzed the fellow as to our beds4 ,we must be off early in the morning2 we have important business to transact at ,amboise before the sun sets to-morrow1 ,i testily remarked4 ,at ,amboise--h'm1 h'm6 ,well1 ,i don't mind telling you that you can reach ,amboise by stroke of noon2 and so you have business at ,amboise1 eh8 ,i saw ,michael's brow lower at this wheedling little man's question1 and answered rather hastily and imprudently3-- ,yes1 business1 my good man1 important business1 as you will see when we return this road to-morrow night with the prize we are after4 ,michael jumped up and cried ,damnation6 and ,i at once saw my mistake4 ,the landlord's manner instantly altered4 ,he looked at me triumphantly and said3-- ,beds1 beds6 but1 my honoured sirs1 ,i have no beds in the house4 ,i forgot to tell you that no guest has been upstairs in years1 for certain reasons4 ,indeed1 sirs1 ,i am so embarrassed6 ,i should have told you at once ,i have only a day trade4 ,my regular customers would not dare to stop here over night1 as the house1--here a cunning1 even sinister1 look spread over the fellow's fat face--the house bears an evil reputation4 ,michael started and crossed himself1 but not ,i4 ,i suspected some deep devilry and determined to discover it4 ,so ho8 ,haunted1 eh8 ,well1 ghosts and old women's stories shan't make me budge until dawn4 ,go fetch more wine and open it here1 mine host of the ,scarlet ,dragon1 ,i roared4 ,the little man was nonplussed1 hesitated a moment1 and then trotted off4 ,i saw that ,michael was at last aroused4 ,what diabolical fooling is this8 ,if the place is haunted1 ,i'm off4 ,i'm damned if ,i am1 ,i said quite bravely1 and more wine appeared4 ,we both sat down4 ,the air had become nipping1 and the blaze on the hearth was reassuring4 ,besides1 the wind was querulous1 and ,i didn't fancy a ride at midnight1 even if my lady's quest were an urgent one4 ,michael held his peace as the wine was poured out1 and ,i insisted on the landlord drinking with us4 ,we finished two bottles1 and ,i sent for more4 ,i foresaw that sleep was out of the question1 and so determined to make a night of it4 ,touching upon this ghost1 ,i began1 when the other bade me in ,god's name not to jest4 ,there were some things1 he said1 not to be broached in honest ,christian company4 ,a fig for your scruples6 ,i cried1 emptying my glass2 my head was hot and ,i felt bold4 ,a fig1 ,i say1 for your bogie-man nonsense6 ,tell me at what time doth this phantom choose to show itself4 ,the landlord shivered and drew his seat closer to the fire4 ,oh1 sir1 do not jest6 ,what ,i tell you is no matter for rude laughter4 ,begging your pardon for my offer1 if you will be patient1 ,i will relate to you the story1 and how my misfortune came from this awful visitant4 ,even ,michael seemed placated1 and after ,i nodded my head in token of assent the landlord related to us this story3-- 99 99 99 99 99 ,once upon a time1 sirs1 when the great and good ,louis1 sixteenth of his name1 was ,king of ,france1 this domain was the property of the ,duke of ,langlois4 ,the duke was proud and rich1 and prouder and haughtier was his duchess1 who was born ,berri4 ,ah6 they were mighty folk then1 before the ,revolution came with its sharp axes to clip off their heads4 ,this inn was the stable of the chteau1 which stood off yonder in the woods4 ,alas6 nothing remains of it to-day but a few blackened foundations1 for it was burned to the earth by the red devils in '#ic4 ,but at the time ,i speak of1 the chteau was a big1 rich palace1 full of gay folk2 all the nobility came there1 and the duchess ruled the land4 ,she was crazy for music1 and to such lengths did she go in her madness that she even invited as her guests celebrated composers and singers4 ,the duke was old-fashioned and hated those crazy people who lived only to hum and strum4 ,he would have none of them1 and quarrels with his duchess were of daily occurrence4 ,indeed1 sirs1 so bad did it become that he swore that he would leave the house if ,messire ,gluck1 or ,messire ,piccini1 or any of the other strolling vagabonds--so the duke called them--entered his chteau4 ,and he kept his word1 did the duke4 ,the ,chevalier ,gluck1 a fine1 shapely man1 was invited down by the duchess and amused her and her guests by playing his wonderful tunes on the beautiful harpsichord in the great salon4 ,the duke would have none of this nonsense and went to ,paris1 where he amused himself gambling and throwing gold into his mistresses' laps4 ,the duchess kept right on1 and then the gossips of the neighbourhood began to wag their busy tongues4 ,the lady of the chteau was getting very fine pleasure from the company of the handsome ,austrian chevalier4 ,it was whispered that the ,queen ,marie ,antoinette had looked with favourable eyes upon the composer1 and1 furthermore1 had lent him certain moneys to further his schemes for reforming the stage4 ,reform1 forsooth6 all he cared for was the company of the duchess1 and he vowed that he could make better music at the chteau than up in noisy ,paris4 ,on a fine afternoon it is said that it was no uncommon sight to see the chevalier1 all togged up in his bravest court costume1 sword and all1 sitting at his harpsichord1 playing ravishing music4 ,this was out in the pretty little park back of the chteau1 and the duchess would sit at ,gluck's side and pour out champagne for him4 ,all this may have been idle talk1 but at last the duke got wind of the rumours1 and one night he surprised the pair playing a duo at the harpsichord1 and stabbed them both dead4 ,since then the chteau was burned down1 but the place has been haunted4 ,i1 myself1 good gentlemen1 have heard ghostly music1 and ,i swear to you-- ,oh1 my ,god1 listen1 listen6 ,what pagan nonsense6 blurted out ,michael4 ,i cautioned silence1 and we all listened4 ,the old man had slid off his chair1 and his face was chalky white4 ,michael's ugly mouth was half opened in his black beard1 and ,i confess that ,i felt rather chilly4 ,music1 faint1 tinkling1 we certainly heard4 ,it came with the wind in little sobs1 and then silence settled upon us4 ,it's the ,chevalier ,gluck1 and he is playing to his duchess out in the fields4 ,see1 ,i will open the door and show you1 whispered the fat landlord4 ,he went slowly to the door1 and we followed him breathlessly4 ,the door was pushed open1 and we peered out4 ,the wind was still high1 and the moon rode among rolling boulders of yellow1 fleecy clouds4 ,there1 there1 over yonder1 look2 ,mother of ,christ1 look at the ghost6 the old man pointed a shaking hand4 ,just then the moonlight was blackened by a big cloud1 and we heard the tinkling music of a harpsichord again1 but could see naught4 ,the sounds were plainer now1 and presently resolved into the rhythmic accents of a gavotte4 ,but it seemed far away and very plaintive6 ,hark1 said ,michael1 in a hoarse voice4 ,that's the gavotte from ,pagliacci4 ,listen6 ,don't you remember it8 ,pshaw6 ,i said roughly1 for my nerves were all astir4 ,it's the ,alceste music of ,gluck4 ,look1 look1 gentlemen6 called our host1 and as the moon glowed again in the blue we saw at the edge of the forest a white figure1 saw it1 ,i swear1 although it vanished at once and the music ceased4 ,i started to follow1 but ,michael and the old man seized my arms1 the door was closed with a crash1 and we found ourselves staring blankly into the fire1 all feeling a bit shaken up4 ,it was ,michael's turn to speak4 ,you may do what you please1 but ,i stay here for the night1 no sleep for me1 and he placed his pistols on his knee4 ,i looked at the landlord and ,i thought ,i saw an expression of disappointment on his face1 but ,i was not sure4 ,he made some excuse about being tired and went out of the room4 ,we spent the rest of the night in gloomy silence4 ,we did not speak five words1 for ,i saw that conversation only irritated my companion4 ,at dawn we walked into the sweet air and ,i called loudly for ,arnold1 who looked sleepy and out of sorts when he appeared4 ,the fat old man came to see us off and smilingly accepted the silver ,i put into his hand for our night's reckoning4 ,au revoir1 my old friend1 ,i said as ,i pressed the unnecessary spur into my horse's flank4 ,au revoir1 and look out for the ghost of the gallant ,chevalier ,gluck4 ,tell him1 with my compliments1 not to play such latter-day tunes as the gavotte from ,pagliacci4 ,oh1 ,i'll tell him1 you may be sure1 said he1 quite dryly4 ,we saluted and dashed down the road to ,amboise1 where we hoped to capture our rare prize4 ,we had ridden about a mile when a dog attempted to cross our path4 ,we all but ran the poor brute down4 ,why1 it's lame6 exclaimed ,arnold4 ,oh1 if it were but a lame man1 instead of a dog6 fervently said the groom1 who was in the secret of our quest4 ,a horrid oath rang out on the smoky morning air4 ,michael1 his wicked eyes bulging fiercely1 his thick neck swollen with rage1 was cursing like the army in ,flanders1 as related by dear old ,uncle ,toby4 ,lame man6 why1 oddsbodkins1 that hostler was lame6 ,oh1 fooled1 by ,god6 cheated1 fooled1 swindled and tricked by that scamp and scullion of the inn6 ,oh1 we've been nicely swindled by an old wives' tale of a ghost6 ,i stared in sheer amazement at ,michael1 wondering if the strangely spent night had upset his reason4 ,he could only splutter out between his awful curses3-- ,gluck1 the rascal1 the ghost1 the man we're after6 ,that harpsichord--the lying knave--that tune--,i swear it wasn't ,gluck--oh1 the rascal has escaped again6 ,the ghost story--the villain was told to scare us out of the house--to put us off the track4 ,a thousand devils chase the scamp6 ,and ,michael let his head drop on the pommel of his saddle as he fairly groaned in the bitterness of defeat4 ,i had just begun a dignified rebuke1 for ,michael's language was inexcusable1 when it flashed upon me that we had been1 indeed1 duped4 ,ah1 ,i cried1 in my fury1 of course we were taken in6 ,of course his son was the lame hostler1 the very prize we expected to bag6 ,o ,lord6 what will we say to my lady8 ,we are precious sharp6 ,i ought to have known better4 ,that stuff he told us6 ,langlois1 pshaw1 ,berri--pouf6 ,a ,berri never married a ,langlois1 and ,i might have remembered that ,gluck wasn't assassinated by a jealous duke4 ,what shall we do8 ,we all stood in the middle of the road1 gazing stupidly at the lame dog that gave us the clue4 ,then ,arnold timidly suggested3-- ,hadn't we better go back to the inn8 ,instantly our horses' heads were turned and we galloped madly back on our old tracks4 ,not a word was uttered until we reined up in front of the lonely house1 which looked more haunted by daylight than it did the night before4 ,what did ,i tell you8 suddenly cried ,michael4 ,what do you mean8 ,i asked4 ,over there1 you blind bat6 he said1 coarsely and impatiently2 and pulling out his pistol he fired thrice1 and a low1 melodious sound followed the reports of his weapon4 ,when the smoke cleared away ,i saw that he had hit an old harpsichord which stood against a tree1 facing the house4 ,the ghost6 we yelled1 and then we laughed consumedly4 ,but the shots that winged the old-fashioned instrument had a greater result4 ,the fat host appeared on the edge of the forest1 and he waved a large napkin as a flag of truce4 ,with him was the lame hostler4 ,mercy1 gentlemen1 mercy1 we beseech you6 he cried1 and we soon surrounded both and bound them securely4 ,you will pay dearly for the trick you put upon us1 my man1 said ,michael1 grimly1 and1 walking our horses1 we went by easy stages toward the castle1 towing our prisoners along4 ,when ,i fetched the lame man to my lady1 her face glowed with joy1 and her ,parisian eyes grew brilliant with victory4 ,so you tried to escape8 she cruelly asked of the poor1 cowering wretch4 ,you will never get another chance1 ,i'll warrant me4 ,go1 let the servants put you to work in the large music room first4 ,begin with the grands1 then follow with the uprights4 ,thank you1 gentlemen both1 for the courage and finesse you displayed in this desperate quest4 ,i'll see that you are both suitably rewarded4 ,i fancied that ,michael regarded me sardonically1 but he held his peace about the night's adventures4 ,we had indeed reason to feel flattered at the success of the dangerous expedition4 ,had we not captured1 more by sheer good luck than strategy1 the only piano-tuner in medival ,france8 ,,xii ,,the ,,tragic ,,wall ,i ,,by ,,the ,,dark ,,pool ,it was not so high1 the wall1 as massive1 not so old as moss-covered4 ,after ,rudolph ,ct1 the painter1 had achieved celebrity with his historical canvas1 ,the ,death of the ,antique ,world1 now in the ,louvre1 he bought the estate of ,chalfontaine1 which lies at the junction of two highroads3 one leading to ,ecouen1 the other to ,villiers-le-,bel4 ,almost touching the end of the park on the ,ecouen side there is a little lake1 hardly larger than a pool1 and because of its melancholy aspect--sorrowful willows hem it about1 drooping into stagnant waters--,monsieur ,ct had christened the spot3 ,the ,dark ,tarn of ,auber4 ,he was a fanatical lover of ,poe1 reading him in the ,baudelaire translation1 and openly avowing his preference for the ,french version of the great ,american's tales4 ,that he could speak only five words of ,english did not deter his associates from considering him a profound critic of literature4 ,after his death his property and invested wealth passed into the hands of his youthful widow1 a charming lady1 a native of ,burgundy1 and--if gossip did not lie--a former model of the artist2 indeed1 some went so far as to assert that her face could be seen in her late husband's masterpiece--the figure of a young ,greek slave attired as a joyous bacchante4 ,but her friends always denied this4 ,her dignified bearing1 sincere sorrow for her dead husband1 and her motherly solicitude for her daughter left no doubt as to the value of all petty talk4 ,it was her custom of summer evenings to walk to the pool1 and with her daughter ,berenice she would sit on the broad wall and watch the moon rise1 or acknowledge the respectful salutations of the country folk with their bran-speckled faces4 ,in those days ,villiers-le-,bel was a dull town a half-hour from ,paris on the ,northern ,railway1 and about two miles from the station4 ,the widow was not long without offers4 ,her usual answer was to point out the tiny ,berenice1 playing in the garden with her nurse4 ,then a landscape painter1 one of the ,barbizon group1 appeared1 and1 as a former associate of ,rudolph ,ct1 and a man of means and position1 his suit was successful4 ,to the astonishment of ,villiers-le-,bel1 ,madame ,valerie ,ct became ,madame ,thophile ,mineur2 on the day of the wedding little ,berenice--named after a particularly uncanny heroine of ,poe's by his relentless ,french admirer--scratched the long features of her stepfather4 ,the entire town accepted this as a distressing omen and it was not deceived2 ,berenice ,ct grew up in the likeness of a determined young lady whose mother weakly endured her tyranny1 whose new father secretly feared her4 ,at the age of eighteen she had refused nearly all the young painters between ,ecouen and ,domaine de ,vallires2 and had spent several summers in ,england1 and four years at a ,lausanne school4 ,she feared neither man nor mouse1 and once1 when she saw a famous ,polish pianist walking on his terrace at ,morges1 she took him by the hand1 asked for a lock of his hair1 and was not refused by the amiable virtuoso4 ,after that ,berenice was the acknowledged leader of her class4 ,the teachers trembled before her sparkling1 wrathful black eyes4 ,at home she ruled the household1 and as she was an heiress no one dared to contradict her4 ,her contempt for her stepfather was only matched by her impatience in the company of young men4 ,she pretended--so her intimates said--to loathe them4 ,frivolous idiots was her mildest form of reproof when an ambitious boy would trench upon her pet art theories or attempt to flirt4 ,she called her mother the lamb and her stepfather the parrot--he had a long curved nose2 all together she was very unlike the pattern ,french girl4 ,her favourite lounging place was the wall1 and after she had draped it with a scarlet shawl and perched herself upon it1 she was only too happy to worry any unfortunate man who presented himself4 ,the night ,hubert ,falcroft called at ,chalfontaine ,mademoiselle lise ,evergonde told him that her cousin1 ,madame ,mineur1 and ,berenice had gone in the direction of the pool4 ,he had walked over from the station1 preferring the open air to the stuffy train4 ,so a few vigorous steps brought to his view mother and daughter as they slowly moved1 encircling each other's waist4 ,the painter paused and noted the general loveliness of the picture2 the setting sun had splashed the blue basin overhead with delicate pinks1 and in the fretted edges of some high floating cloud-fleece there was a glint of fire4 ,the smooth grass parquet swept gracefully to the semicircle of dark green trees1 against the foliage of which the virginal white of the gowns was transposed to an ivory tone by the blue and green keys in sky and forest4 ,by ,jove6 he exclaimed1 paint in the foreground a few peacocks languidly dragging their gorgeous tails1 and you have a ,watteau or a ,fragonard--no1 a ,monticelli6 ,only1 ,monticelli would have made the peacocks the central motive with the women and trees as an arabesque4 ,he was a portraitist who solemnly believed in the principle of decoration--character must take its chances when he painted4 ,falcroft was successful with women's heads1 which he was fond of depicting in misty shadows framed by luxurious accessories4 ,they called him the ,master of ,chiffon1 at ,julien's2 when he threw overboard his old friends and joined the new crowd1 their indignation was great4 ,his title now was the ,ribbon ,impressionist1 and at the last salon of the ,independents1 ,falcroft had the mortification of seeing a battalion of his former companions at anchor in front of his picture1 ,the ,lady with the ,cat1 which they reviled for at least an hour4 ,he was an ,american who had lived his life long in ,france1 and only showed race in his nervous1 brilliant technic and his fondness for bizarre subjects4444 ,he had not stood many minutes when a young voice saluted him3-- ,ah1 ,monsieur ,falcroft4 ,come1 come quickly4 ,mamma is delighted to see you6 ,his mental picture was decomposed by the repeated waving of the famous shawl1 which only came into view as ,berenice turned4 ,hubert regretted that she had not worn it--the peacocks could have been exchanged for its vivid note of scarlet4 ,pretending not to have heard her speech1 he gravely saluted the mother and daughter4 ,but ,berenice was unabashed4 ,mamma was wondering if you would visit us to-night1 ,monsieur ,falcroft1 when ,i saw you staring at us as if we were ghosts4 ,a burst of malicious laughter followed4 ,berenice1 ,berenice1 remonstrated her mother1 when will you cease such tasteless remarks6 ,she blushed in her pretty matronly fashion and put her hand on her daughter's mouth4 ,don't mind her1 ,madame ,mineur6 ,i like to meet a ,french girl with a little unconventionality4 ,berenice reminds me now of an ,english girl-- ,or one of your own countrywomen6 interrupted ,berenice2 and please--,miss1 after this1 ,i am a grown young lady4 ,he joined in the merriment4 ,she was not to be resisted and he wished--no1 he did not wish--but he thought1 that if he were younger1 what gay days he might have4 ,yet he admired her mother much more4 ,elaine ,ct-,mineur was an old-fashioned woman1 gentle1 reserved1 and at the age when her beauty had a rare autumnal quality--the very apex of its perfection2 in a few years1 in a year1 perhaps1 the change would come and crabbed winter set in4 ,he particularly admired the oval of her face1 her soft brown eyes1 and the harmonious contour of her head4 ,he saw her instantly with a painter's imagination--filmy lace must modulate about her head like a dreamy aureole2 across her figure a scarf of yellow silk2 in her hands he would paint a crystal vase1 and in the vase one rose with a heart of sulphur4 ,and her eyes would gaze as if she saw the symbol of her age--the days slipping away like ropes of sand from her grasp4 ,he could make a fascinating portrait he thought1 and he said so4 ,instantly another peal of irritating laughter came from ,berenice3-- ,don't tell papa4 ,he is so jealous of the portrait he tried to make of mamma last summer4 ,you never saw it6 ,it's awful4 ,it's hid away behind a lot of canvases in the atelier4 ,it looks like a ,czanne still-life4 ,i'll show it to you sometime4 ,her mother revealed annoyance by compressing her lips4 ,falcroft said nothing4 ,they had skirted the pool in single file1 for the path was narrow and the denseness of the trees caused a partial obscurity4 ,when they reached the wall1 the moon was rising in the eastern sky4 ,l'heure exquise1 murmured ,madame ,mineur4 ,berenice wandered down the road and ,hubert helped her mother to the wall1 where he sat beside her and looked at her4 ,he was a big1 muscular man with shaven cheeks1 dark eyes1 and plenty of tumbled hair1 in which flecks of gray were showing4 ,he had been a classmate of ,thophile ,mineur1 for whose talents or personality he had never betrayed much liking4 ,but one day at a djener1 which had prolonged itself until evening1 ,mineur insisted on his old friend--the ,burgundy was old1 too--accompanying him to ,villiers-le-,bel1 and not without a motive4 ,he knew ,falcroft to be rich1 and he would not be sorry to see his capricious and mischievous stepdaughter well settled4 ,but ,falcroft immediately paid court to ,madame ,mineur1 and ,berenice had to content herself with watching him and making fun to her stepfather of the ,american painter's height and gestures4 ,the visit had been repeated4 ,berenice was amused by a dinner en ville and a theatre party1 and then ,hubert ,falcroft became a friend of the household4 ,when ,mineur was away painting1 the visits were not interrupted4 ,listen1 said ,madame ,mineur2 ,i wish to speak with you seriously1 my dear friend4 ,she made a movement as if to place her hand on his shoulder1 but his expression--his face was in the light--caused her to transfer her plump fingers to her coiffure1 which she touched dexterously4 ,hubert was disappointed4 ,i am listening1 he answered2 is it a sermon1 or consent--to that portrait8 ,come1 give in--,elaine4 ,he had never called her by this name before1 and he anxiously awaited the result4 ,but she did not relax her grave attitude4 ,you must know1 ,monsieur ,falcroft1 what anxieties we undergo about ,berenice4 ,she is too wild for a ,french girl1 too wild for her age-- ,oh1 let her enjoy her youth1 he interrupted4 ,alas6 that youth will be soon a thing of the past1 she sighed4 ,berenice is past eighteen1 and her father and ,i must consider her future4 ,figure to yourself--she dislikes young men1 eligible or not1 and you are the only man she tolerates4 ,and ,i am hopelessly ineligible1 he laughingly said4 ,why8 asked the mother1 quietly4 ,why6 ,do you know that ,i am nearing forty8 ,do you see the pepper and salt in my hair8 ,after one passes twoscore it is time to think of the past1 not of the future4 ,i am over the brow of the hill2 ,i see the easy decline of the road--it doesn't seem as long as when ,i climbed the other half4 ,he smiled1 threw back his strong shoulders1 and inhaled a huge breath of air4 ,truly you are childish1 she said2 you are at the best part of your life1 of your career4 ,yes1 ,thophile1 my husband1 who is so chary in his praise1 said that you would go far if you cared4 ,her low1 warm voice1 with its pleading inflections1 thrilled him4 ,he took her by the wrist4 ,and would it please you1 if ,i went far8 ,she trembled4 ,not too far1 dear friend--remember ,berenice4 ,i remember no one but you1 he impatiently answered2 and relaxing his hold1 he moved so that the moonlight shone on her face4 ,she was pale4 ,in her eyes there were fright and hope1 decision and delight4 ,he admired her more than ever4 ,let me paint you1 ,elaine1 these next few weeks4 ,it will be a surprise for ,mineur4 ,and ,i shall have something to cherish4 ,never mind about ,berenice4 ,she is a child4 ,i am a middle-aged man4 ,between us is the wall--of the years4 ,never should it be climbed4 ,while you-- ,be careful--,hubert4 ,thophile is your friend4 ,he is not4 ,i never cared for him4 ,he dragged me out here after he had been drinking too much1 and when ,i saw you ,i could not stay away4 ,hear me--,i insist6 ,berenice is nice1 but the wall is too high for her to climb2 it might prove a-- ,how do you know the wall is too steep for ,berenice8 the girl cried as she scaled the top with apish agility1 where1 after a few mocking steps in the moonlight1 she sank down breathless beside ,hubert1 and laughed so loudly that her mother was fearful of hysteria4 ,berenice6 ,berenice6 she exclaimed4 ,oh1 ,berenice is all right1 mamma4 ,master ,hubert1 ,i want you to paint my portrait before papa returns--that's to be in four weeks1 isn't it8 ,the elder pair regarded her disconcertedly4 ,oh1 you needn't look so dismal4 ,i'll not tell tales out of school4 ,hubert and mamma flirting6 ,what a glorious jest6 ,isn't life a jest1 ,hubert8 ,let's make a bargain6 ,if you paint mamma1 you paint me1 also4 ,then--you see--papa will not be jealous1 and--and-- ,she was near tears her mother felt1 and she leaned over ,hubert and took the girl's hand4 ,she grazed the long fingers of the painter1 who at once caught both feminine hands in his4 ,now ,i have you both1 he boasted1 and was shocked by a vicious tap on the cheek--,berenice in rage pulled her left hand free4 ,silence ensued4 ,hubert prudently began to roll another cigarette1 and ,madame ,mineur retreated out of the moonlight1 while ,berenice turned her back and soon began to hum4 ,the artist spoke first3 ,see here1 you silly ,berenice1 turn around6 ,i want to talk to you like a ,dutch uncle--as we say in the ,united ,states4 ,of course ,i'll paint you4 ,but ,i begin with your mother4 ,and if you wish me to like you better than ever1 don't say such things as you did4 ,it hurts your--mother4 ,his voice dropped into its deepest bass4 ,she faced him1 and he saw the glitter of wet eyelashes4 ,she was charming1 with her hair in disorder1 her eyes two burning points of fire4 ,i beg your pardon1 mamma2 ,i beg your pardon1 ,hubert4 ,i'll be good the rest of this evening4 ,isn't it lovely8 ,she sniffed in the breeze with dilating nostrils1 and the wild look of her set him to wondering how such a gentle mother could have such a gypsy daughter4 ,perhaps it was the father--yes1 the old man had been an ,apache in his youth according to the slang of the studios4 ,but you must paint me as ,i wish1 not as you will1 resumed ,berenice4 ,i hate conventional portraits4 ,papa ,mineur chills me with his cabinet pictures of haughty society ladies1 their faces as stiff as their starched gowns4 ,oh1 ,berenice1 will you never say polite things of your father8 ,never1 she defiantly replied4 ,he wouldn't believe me if ,i did4 ,no1 ,hubert1 ,i want to pose as ,ophelia4 ,oh1 don't laugh1 please6 ,they could not help it1 and she leaped to the grass and called out3-- ,i don't mean a theatrical ,ophelia1 singing songs and spilling flowers2 ,i mean ,ophelia drowned-- she threw herself on the sward1 her arms crossed on her bosom1 and in the moonlight they could see her eyes closed as if by death4 ,help me down1 ,hubert4 ,that girl will go mad some day4 ,he reached the earth and he gave her a hand4 ,berenice had arisen4 ,sulkily she said3-- ,shall ,i step into the ,dark ,tarn of ,auber and float for you8 ,i'll make a realistic picture1 my ,master ,painter--who paints without imagination4 ,and then she darted into the shrubbery and was lost to view4 ,without further speech the two regained the path and returned to the house4 ,,ii ,,the ,,crimson ,,splash ,when loise was asked by ,berenice how long ,monsieur ,mineur would remain away on his tour1 she did not reply4 ,rather1 she put a question herself3 why this sudden solicitude about the little-loved stepfather4 ,berenice jokingly answered that she thought of slipping away to ,switzerland for a vacance on her own account4 loise1 who was not agreeable looking1 viewed her charge suspiciously4 ,young lady1 you are too deep for me4 ,but you'll bear watching1 she grimly confessed4 ,berenice skipped about her teasingly4 ,i know something1 but ,i won't tell1 unless you tell4 ,what is it8 ,will you tell8 ,yes4 ,when is he coming back1 and where is he now8 she insisted4 ,your father1 you half-crazy child1 expects to return in a month--by the first of ,june4 ,and if you wish to wire or write him1 let me know4 ,now ,i won't tell you my secret1 and she was off like a gale of wind4 loise shook her head and wondered4 ,in the atelier ,hubert painted4 ,elaine sat on a dais1 her hands folded in her lap2 about her head twisted nun's-veiling gave her the old-fashioned quality of a ,cosway miniature--the very effect he had sought4 ,it was to be a pretty affair1 this picture1 with its subdued lighting1 the face being the only target he aimed at2 all the rest1 the suave background1 the gauzy draperies1 he would brush in--suggest rather than state4 ,i'll paint her soul1 that sensitive soul of hers which tremulously peeps out of her eyes1 he thought4 ,elaine was a patient subject4 ,she took the pose naturally and scarcely breathed during the weary sittings4 ,he recalled the early gossip and sought to evoke her as a professional model4 ,but he gave up in despair4 ,she was hopelessly ladylike1 and to interpret her adequately1 only the decorative patterns of earlier men--,mignard1 ,van ,loo1 ,nattier1 ,largillire--would translate her native delicacy4 ,for nearly four weeks he had laboured on the face1 painting it in with meticulous touches only to rub it out with savage disgust4 ,to transcribe those tranquil1 liquid eyes1 their expression more nave than her daughter's--this had proved too difficult a problem for the usually facile technique of ,falcroft4 ,give him a brilliant virtuoso theme and he could handle it with some of the sweep and splendour of the early ,carolus ,duran or the brutal elegance of the later ,boldini4 ,but ,madame ,mineur was a pastoral4 ,she did not express nervous gesture4 ,she was seldom dynamic4 ,to do her in dots like the pointillistes or in touches after the manner of the earlier impressionists would be ridiculous4 ,her abiding charm was her repose4 ,she brought to him the quiet values of an eighteenth-century eclogue--he saw her as a divinely artificial shepherdess watching an unreal flock1 while the haze of decorative atmosphere would envelop her1 with not a vestige of real life on the canvas4 ,yet he knew her as a natural1 lovable woman1 a mother who had suffered and would suffer because of her love for her only child4 ,it was a paradox1 like many other paradoxes of art4 ,the daughter--ah6 perhaps she might better suit his style4 ,she was admirable in her madcap carelessness and exotic colouring4 ,decidedly he would paint her when this picture was finished--if it ever would be4 ,berenice avoided entering the studio during these sittings4 ,she no longer jested with her mother about the picture1 and with ,hubert she preserved such an air of dignity that he fancied he had offended her4 ,he usually came to ,villiers-le-,bel on an early train three or four times a week and remained at ,chalfontaine until ten o'clock4 ,never but once had a severe storm forced him to stay overnight4 ,since the episode on the wall he had not attempted any further advances4 ,he felt happy in the company of ,elaine1 and gazing into her large eyes rested his spirit4 ,it was true--he no longer played with ease the rle of a soul-hunter4 ,his youth had been troubled by many adventures1 many foolish ones1 and now he felt a calm in the midway of his life and that desire for domestic ease which sooner or later overtakes all men4 ,he fancied himself painting ,elaine on just such tranquil summer afternoons under a soft light4 ,and oh6 the joys of long walks1 discreet gossip1 and dinners at a well-served table with a few chosen friends4 ,was he1 after all1 longing for the flesh-pots of the philistine--he1 ,hubert ,falcroft1 who had patrolled the boulevards like other sportsmen of midnight6 ,at last the picture began to glow with that inner light he had so patiently pursued4 ,elaine ,mineur looked at him from the canvas with veiled sweetness1 a smile almost enigmatic lurking about her lips4 ,deepen a few lines and her expression would be one of contented sleekness4 ,that ,hubert had missed by a stroke4 ,it was in her eyes that her chief glory abided4 ,they were pathetic without resignation1 liquid without humidity1 indescribable in colouring and form4 ,their full cup and the accents which experience had graven under them were something he had never dreamed of realizing4 ,it was a ,cosway2 but a ,cosway broadened and without a hint of genteel namby-pamby or overelaborate finesse4 ,hubert was fairly satisfied4 ,madame ,mineur had little to say4 ,during the sittings she seldom spoke1 and if their eyes met1 the richness of her glance was a compensation for her lack of loquacity4 ,hubert did not complain4 ,he was in no hurry4 ,to be under the same roof with this adorable woman was all that he asked4 ,the day after he had finished his picture1 he returned to ,chalfontaine for the midday breakfast4 ,berenice was absent--in her room with a headache1 her mother explained4 ,the weather was sultry4 ,he questioned ,elaine during the meal4 ,had ,berenice's temper improved8 ,they passed out to the balcony where their coffee was served1 and when he lighted his cigarette1 ,madame ,mineur begged to be excused4 ,she had promised ,cousin loise to pay some calls4 ,he strolled over the lawn1 watching the hummocks of white clouds which piled up in architectural masses across the southern sky4 ,then he remembered the portrait and mounted to the atelier4 ,as he put his hand on the knob of the door he thought he heard some one weeping4 ,suddenly the door was pulled from his grasp and ,berenice appeared4 ,her hair hung on her shoulders4 ,she was in a white dressing-gown4 ,her face was red and her eyes swollen4 ,she did not attempt to move4 ,affectionately ,hubert caught her in his arms and asked about her headache4 ,it is better1 she answered in scarcely audible accents4 ,why1 you poor child6 ,i hope you are not going to be ill6 ,have you been racing in the sun without your hat8 ,no4 ,i haven't been out of doors since yesterday4 ,what's the matter1 little ,berenice8 ,has some one been cross with her8 ,she pushed him from her violently4 ,hubert ,falcroft1 when you treat me as a woman and not as a child-- ,but ,i am treating you as a woman1 he said4 ,her dark face became tragic4 ,she had emerged from girlhood in a few hours4 ,and as he held her closer some perverse spirit entered into his soul4 ,her vibrating youth and beauty forced him to gaze into her blazing eyes until he saw the pupils contract4 ,let me go6 she panted4 ,let me free6 ,i am not a doll4 ,go to your portrait and worship it4 ,let me free6 ,and what if ,i do not8 ,something of her rebellious feeling filled his veins4 ,he felt younger1 stronger1 fiercer4 ,he put his arms about her neck and1 after a silent battle1 kissed her4 ,then she pushed by him and disappeared4 ,he could see nothing1 after the shock of the adventure1 for some moments1 and the semi-obscurity of the atelier was grateful to his eyes4 ,a picture stood on the easel1 but it was not1 he fancied1 the portrait4 ,he went to the centre of the room where hung the cords that controlled the curtains covering the glass roof4 ,then in the flood of light he barely recognized the head of ,elaine4 ,it was on the easel1 and with a sharp pain at his heart he saw across the face a big crimson splash4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,iii ,,moon-,,rays ,the dewy brightness of tangled blush roses had faded in the vague twilight2 through the aisles of the little wood leading to the pool the light timidly flickered as ,hubert and ,elaine walked with the hesitating steps of perplexed persons4 ,they had not spoken since they left the house--there in a few hurried words he told her of the accident and noted with sorrow the look of anguish in her eyes4 ,without knowing why1 they went in the direction of the wall4 ,there was no moon when they reached the highroad4 ,it would rise later1 ,elaine said in her low1 slightly monotonous voice4 ,hubert was so stunned by the memory of his ruined picture that he forgot his earlier encounter with ,berenice--that is1 in describing it he had failed to minutely record his behaviour4 ,but in the cool evening air his conscience became alive and he guiltily wondered whether he dare tell his misconduct--no1 imprudence8 ,why not8 ,she regarded him as a possible husband for ,berenice--but how embarrassing6 ,he made up his mind to say nothing2 when the morrow came he would write ,elaine the truth and bid her good-by4 ,he could not in honour continue to visit this home where resided the woman he loved--with a jealous daughter4 ,why jealous8 ,what a puzzle1 and what an absurd one6 ,he helped ,elaine to a seat on the wall and sat near her4 ,for several minutes neither spoke4 ,they were again facing the pool1 which looked in the dusk like a cracked mirror4 ,it is not clear yet to me1 murmured ,elaine4 ,that the unfortunate child has always been more or less morbid and sick-brained1 ,i have been aware4 ,the world1 marriage1 and active existence will mend all that1 ,i hope4 ,i fear she is a little spoilt and selfish4 ,and she doesn't love me very much4 ,she has inherited all her father's passion for ,poe's tales4 ,my dear friend1 she is jealous--that's the only solution of this shocking act4 ,she disliked the idea of my portrait from the start4 ,you remember on this spot hardly a month ago she challenged you to paint her as the drowned ,ophelia6--and all her teasing about ,monsieur ,mineur and his jealousy1 and-- ,our flirtation1 added ,hubert1 sadly4 ,oh1 pray do not say such a thing6 ,she is so hot-headed1 so fond of you4 ,yes1 ,i saw it from the beginning1 and your talk about the insurmountable wall of middle-age did not deceive me4 ,i only hope that will not be a tragic wall for her1 for you--or for me4444 ,her words trailed into a mere whisper4 ,he put his hand over hers and again they were silent4 ,about them the green of the forest had been transformed by the growing night into great clumps of velvety darkness and the vault overhead was empty of stars4 ,june airs fanned their discontent into mild despair1 and simultaneously they dreamed of another life1 of a harmonious existence far from ,paris1 into which the phantom of ,thophile ,mineur would never intrude4 ,yet they made no demonstration of their affection--they would have been happy to sit and dream on this moon-haunted wall1 near this nocturnal pool1 forever4 ,hubert pictured ,berenice in her room1 behind bolted doors1 lying across the bed weeping1 or else staring in sullen repentance at the white ceiling4 ,why had she indulged in such vandalism8 ,the portrait was utterly destroyed by the flaring smear laid on with a brush in the hand of an enraged young animal4 ,what sort of a woman might not develop from this tempestuous girl6 ,he knew that he had mortally offended her by his rudeness4 ,but it was after1 not before1 the cruel treatment of his beloved work4 ,yet1 how like a man had been his rapid succumbing to transitory temptation6 ,for it was transitory--of that he was sure4 ,the woman he loved1 with a reverent love1 was next to him1 and if his pulse did not beat as furiously at this moment as earlier in the day1 why--all the better4 ,he was through forever with his boyish recklessness4 ,another peculiar thing1 broke in ,elaine1 as if she had been thinking aloud1 is that ,berenice has been pestering loise for her father's address4 ,her father's address8 echoed her companion4 ,yes2 but whether she wrote to him loise could not say4 ,why should she write to him8 ,she dislikes him--dislikes him almost as much-- he was about to pronounce his own name4 ,she caught him up4 ,yes1 that is the singular part of this singular affair4 ,she felt slighted because you painted my portrait before hers4 ,i confess ,i have had my misgivings4 ,you should have been more considerate of her feelings1 ,hubert1 my friend4 ,she paused and sighed4 ,for him the sigh was a spark that blew up the magazine of his firmest resolves4 ,he had been touching her hands fraternally4 ,his arm embraced her so that she could not escape1 as this middle-aged man told his passion with the ardour of an enamoured youth4 ,you dare not tell me you do not care for me6 ,elaine--let us reason4 ,i loved you since the first moment ,i met you4 ,it is folly to talk of ,mineur and my friendship for him4 ,i dislike1 ,i despise him4 ,it is folly to talk of ,berenice and her childish pranks4 ,what if she did cruelly spoil my work1 our work6 ,she will get over it4 ,girls always do get over these things4 ,let us accept conditions as they are4 ,say you love me--a little bit--and ,i'll be content to remain at your side1 a friend1 always that4 ,i'll paint you again--much more beautifully than before4 ,he was hoarse from the intensity of his feelings4 ,the moon had risen and tipped with its silver brush the tops of the trees4 ,and--my husband8 ,and ,berenice8 ,let things remain as they are4 ,he pressed her to him4 ,a crackling in the underbrush and a faint plash in the lake startled them asunder4 ,they listened with ears that seemed like beating hearts4 ,there was no movement2 only a night bird plaintively piped in the distance and a clock struck the quarter4 ,elaine1 now thoroughly frightened1 tried to get down from the wall4 ,hubert restrained her1 and as they stood thus1 a moaning like the wind in autumnal leaves reached them4 ,the moon-rays began to touch the water1 and suddenly a nimbus of light formed about a floating face in the pool4 ,the luminous path broadened1 and to their horror they saw ,berenice1 her hair outspread1 her arms crossed on her young bosom1 lying in the little lake4 ,elaine screamed3-- ,my ,god6 ,my ,god6 ,it is ,berenice6--,berenice1 ,i am punished for my wickedness to you6 ,hubert1 stunned by the vision1 did not stir1 as the almost fainting mother gripped his neck4 ,and then the eyes of the whimsical girl opened4 ,a malicious smile distorted her pretty face4 ,slowly she arose1 a dripping ghost in white1 and pointing her long1 thin fingers in the direction of the ,ecouen road she mockingly cried3-- ,there is some one to see your portrait at last1 dear ,master ,painter4 ,and saying this she vanished in the gloom1 instantly followed by her agitated mother4 ,hubert turned toward the wall1 and upon it he recognized the stepfather of ,berenice4 ,after staring at each other like two moon-struck wights1 the ,american spoke3-- ,i swear that ,i1 alone1 am to blame for this-- ,the other wore the grin of a malevolent satyr4 ,his voice was thick4 ,why apologize1 ,hubert8 ,you know that it has been my devoted wish that you marry ,berenice4 ,he swayed on his perch4 ,hubert's brain was in a fog4 ,berenice6 said he4 ,yes--,berenice4 ,why not8 ,she loves you4 ,then--you--,madame ,mineur-- stammered ,hubert4 ,the ,frenchman placed his finger on his nose and slyly whispered3-- ,don't be afraid6 ,i'll not tell my wife that ,i caught ,berenice with you alone in the park--you ,don ,juan6 ,now to the portrait--,i must see that masterpiece of yours4 ,berenice wrote me about it4 ,he nodded his head sleepily4 ,berenice wrote you about it6 was the mechanical reply4 ,i'll join you and we'll go to the house4 ,he tried to step down1 but rolled over at ,hubert's feet4 ,what a joke is this champagne1 he growled as he was lifted to his tottering legs4 ,we had a glorious time this afternoon before ,i left ,paris4 ,hurrah6 ,you're to be my son-in-law4 ,and1 my boy1 ,i don't envy you--that's the truth4 ,with such a little demon for a wife--,i pity you1 pity you--hurrah6 ,i am more to be despised1 muttered ,hubert ,falcroft1 as they moved away from the peaceful moonlit wall4 ,,xiii ,a ,,sentimental ,,rebellion ,i came not to send peace1 but a sword4444 ,i am come to send fire on the earth4 ,i ,her living room was a material projection of ,yetta ,silverman's soul4 ,the apartment on the north side of ,tompkins ,square1 was small1 sunny1 and comfortable4 ,from its windows in spring and summer she could see the boys and girls playing around the big1 bare park1 and when her eyes grew tired of the street she rested them on her beloved books and pictures4 ,on one wall hung the portraits of ,herzen1 ,bakounine and ,kropotkin--the ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost of the anarchistic movement1 as she piously called them4 ,other images of the propaganda were scattered over the walls3 ,netschajew--the ,st4 ,paul of the ,nihilists--,ravachol1 ,octave ,mirbeau1 ,jean ,grave1 ,reclus1 ,spies1 ,parsons1 ,engels1 and ,lingg--the last four victims of the ,haymarket affair1 and the ,fenians1 ,allen1 ,larkin1 and ,o',brien1 the ,manchester martyrs4 ,among the philosophers1 poets1 and artists were ,schopenhauer1 ,tolstoy1 ,max ,stirner--a rare drawing--,ibsen1 ,thoreau1 ,emerson--the great ,american individualists--,beethoven1 ,zola1 ,richard ,strauss1 ,carlyle1 ,nietzsche1 ,gorky1 ,walt ,whitman1 ,dostoiwsky1 ,mazzini1 ,rodin1 ,constantin ,meunier1 ,shelley1 ,turgnieff1 ,bernard ,shaw1 and finally the kindly face and intellectual head of the lawyer who so zealously defended the ,chicago anarchists4 ,this diversified group1 together with much revolutionary literature1 poems1 pamphlets1 the works of ,proudhon1 ,songs ,before ,sunrise1 by ,swinburne1 and a beautiful etching of ,makart's proletarian ,christ1 completed1 with an old square pianoforte1 the ensemble of an individual room1 a room that expressed1 as her admirers said1 the strong1 suffering soul of ,yetta ,silverman1 ,russian anarchist1 agitator1 and exile4 ,come in1 she cried out in her sharp1 though not unpleasant1 voice4 ,a thin young man entered4 ,she clapped her hands4 ,oh1 so you changed your mind6 ,he looked at her over his glasses with his weak1 blue eyes1 the white of which predominated4 ,simply dressed1 he nevertheless gave the impression of superior social station4 ,he was of the ,new ,england theological-seminary type--narrow-chested1 gaunt as to visage1 by temperament drawn to theology1 or1 in default of religious belief1 an ardent enthusiast in sociology4 ,the contracted temples1 uncertain gaze1 and absence of fulness beneath the eyes betrayed the unimaginative man4 ,art was a sealed book to him1 though taxation fairly fired his suspicious soul4 ,he was nervous because he was dyspeptic1 and at one time of his career he mistook stomach trouble for a call to the pulpit4 ,and he was a millionnaire more times than he took the trouble to count4 ,yes1 he timidly replied1 ,i did change my wavering mind--as you call that deficient organ of mine--and so ,i returned4 ,i hope ,i don't disturb you6 ,no1 not yet4 ,i am sitting with my hands folded in my lap1 like the women of your class--ladies1 you call them4 ,she accented the title1 without bitterness4 ,a cursory estimate of her appearance would have placed her in the profession of a trained nurse1 or perhaps in the remotest analysis1 a sewing woman of superior tastes4 ,she was small1 wiry1 her head too large for her body2 but the abounding nervous vitality1 the harsh fire that burned in her large brown eyes1 and the firm mouth would have attracted the attention of the most careless4 ,her mask1 with its high ,slavic cheek-bones and sharp ,jewish nose1 proclaimed her a magnetic woman4 ,in her quarter on the far ,east ,side the children called her ,aunt ,yetta4 ,she was a sister of charity in the guise of a revolutionist4 ,you sit but you think1 and my ladies never think1 he answered1 in his boyish voice4 ,he seemed proud to be so near this distinguished creature4 ,had she not been sent to ,siberia1 driven out of ,france and ,germany1 and arrested in ,new ,york for her incendiary speeches8 ,she possessed the most extraordinary power over an audience4 ,once1 at ,cooper ,union1 ,arthur had seen her control a crazy mob bent on destroying the building because a few stupid police had interfered with the meeting4 ,among her brethren ,yetta ,silverman was classed with ,louise ,michel1 ,sophia ,perowskaia1 and ,vera ,zassoulitch1 those valiant women1 true guardian angels1 veritable martyrs to the cause4 ,he thought of them as he watched the delicate-looking young woman before him4 ,arthur was too chilly of blood to fall in love with her2 his admiration was purely cerebral4 ,he was unlucky enough to have had for a father a shrewd1 visionary man1 that curious combination of merchant and dreamer once to be found in ,new ,england4 ,a follower of ,fourier1 a friend of ,emerson1 the elder ,wyartz had gone to ,brook ,farm and had left it in a few months4 ,dollars1 not dreams1 was his true ambition4 ,but he registered his dissatisfaction with this futile attempt by christening his only son1 ,arthur ,schopenhauer2 it was old ,wyartz's way of getting even with the ideal4 ,obsessed from the age of spelling by his pessimistic middle name1 the boy had grown up in a cloudy compromise of rebellion and the church4 ,for a few years he vacillated2 he went to ,harvard1 studied the ,higher ,criticism1 made a trip abroad1 wrote a little book recording the contending impulses of his pale1 harassed soul--,oscillations was the title--and returned to ,boston a mild anarch4 ,emerson the mystic1 transposed to the key of ,france1 sometimes makes bizarre music4 ,she arose and1 walking over to him1 put her hand nonchalantly on his shoulder4 ,arthur1 comrade1 what do you mean to do with yourself--come1 what will all this enthusiasm bring forth8 ,he fumbled his glasses with his thumb and index finger--a characteristic gesture--and nervously regarded her before answering4 ,then he smiled at his idea4 ,we might marry and fight the great fight together like the ,jenkins crowd4 ,marry6 she exclaimed--her guttural ,russian accent manifested itself when she became excited--marry6 ,you are only a baby1 ,arthur ,schopenhauer ,wyartz--,herrgott1 this child bears such a name6--and while ,i am sure the thin ,yankee blood of the ,jenkins family needed a ,jewish wife1 and a ,slav1 ,i am not that way of thinking for myself4 ,i am married to the revolution4 ,her eyes dwelt with reverence on her new ,christian saints1 those ,christs of the gutter1 who had sacrificed their lives in the modern arena for the idea of liberty1 who were thrown to the wild beasts and slaughtered by the latter-day pagans of wealth1 and barbarians in purple4 ,he followed her glance4 ,it lashed him to jerky enthusiasm4 ,i am not joking1 he earnestly asserted1 so pardon my rashness4 ,only believe in my sincerity4 ,i am no anarch on paper4 ,i am devoted to your cause and to you1 ,yetta1 to my last heart's blood4 ,do you need my wealth8 ,it is yours4 ,you can work miracles with millions in ,america4 ,take it all4 ,it's not money we need1 but men1 she answered darkly4 ,your millions1 which came to you innocently enough1 represent the misery of--how many8 ,let the multi-millionnaires give away their money to found theological colleges and libraries--my party will have none of it4 ,its men are armed by the ideas that we prefer4 ,i don't blame the rich or the political tyrants--the mob has to be educated1 the unhappy proletarians1 who have so long submitted to the crack of the whip that they wouldn't know what to do with their freedom if they had it4 ,all mobs believe alike in filth and fire1 whether antique slaves free for their day's ,saturnalia1 or the ,paris crowds of '#ic4 ,their ideas of happiness are pillage1 bloodshed1 drunkenness1 revenge4 ,every popular uprising sinks the people deeper in their misery4 ,every bomb thrown discredits the cause of liberty4 ,astonished by this concession1 ,arthur wondered how she had ever earned her reputation as the ,russian ,red ,virgin1 as an unequivocal terrorist4 ,thus he had heard her hailed at all the meetings which she addressed4 ,but she did not notice his perturbation1 she was following another train4 ,you ,americans do not love money as much as the ,europeans--who hoard it away1 who worship it on their naked knees2 but you do something worse--you love it for the sake of the sport1 a cruel sport for the poor4 ,you go into speculation as the ,english go after big game4 ,it is a sport4 ,this sport involves food--and you gamble with wheat and meat for counters1 while starving men and women pay for the game4 ,america is yet rich enough to afford this sport1 but some day it will become crowded like ,europe1 and then1 beware6 ,wasn't it ,james ,hinton who said that ',overthrowing society means an inverted pyramid getting straight'8 ,and ,america1 she continued1 bribes us with the gilded sentimental phrases of ,rousseau1 ,mirabeau1 and ,thomas ,paine woven into your national constitution1 with its presumptuous declaration that all men are born free and equal--shades of ,darwin and ,nietzsche6--and that universal suffrage is a panacea for all evils4 ,in no country boasting itself ,christian is there a system so artfully devised for keeping the poor free and unequal1 no country where so-called public opinion1 as expressed in the press1 is used to club the majority into submission4 ,and you are all proud of this liberty--a liberty at which the despised serf in ,russia or the man of the street in ,london sneers--there is to-day more individual liberty in ,england and ,germany than in the ,united ,states4 ,don't smile6 ,i can prove it4 ,as for ,france or ,italy--they are a hundred years ahead of you in municipal government4 ,but ,i shan't talk blue-books at you1 ,arthur6 ,why not1 why not8 he quickly interposed4 ,you always impress me by your easy handling of facts4 ,and why won't my money be of use to the social revolution8 ,scornfully she started up again and began walking4 ,why8 ,because convictions can't be bought with cash6 ,why6 ,because philanthropy is the most selfish of vices4 ,you may do good here and there--but you do more harm4 ,you create more paupers1 you fine gentlemen1 with your ,mission houses and your ,settlement workers6 ,you are trying to cover the ugly sores with a plaster of greenbacks4 ,it won't heal the sickness--it won't heal it1 ,i tell you4 ,her eyes were flaming and she stamped the floor passionately4 ,we workers on the ,east ,side have a name for you millionnaires4 ,we call you the ,white ,mice4 ,you have pretty words and white lies1 pretty ways and false smiles4 ,lies6 lies6 lies6 ,you are only giving back1 with the aid of your superficial fine ladies1 the money stolen from the true money earners4 ,you have discovered the ,ghetto--you and the impertinent newspaper men4 ,and like the reporters you come down to use us for 'copy4' ,you live here in comfort among us and then go away1 write a book about our wretchedness and pose as altruistic heroes in your own silly set4 ,how ,i loathe that word--altruism6 ,as if the sacrifice of your personality does not always lead to self-deception1 to hypocrisy6 ,it is an excuse for the busybody-rich to advertise their charities4 ,if they were as many armed as ,briareus or the octopus1 their charity would be known to each and every hand on their arms4 ,these sentimental anarchs6 ,they even marry our girls and carry them off to coddle their conscience with gilded gingerbread4 ,yet they would turn their backs on ,christ if he came to ,hester ,street--,christ1 the first modern anarch1 a destructionist1 a proletarian who preached fire and sword for the evil rich of his times4 ,nowadays he would be sent to ,blackwell's ,island for six months as a disturber of the peace or for healing without a license from the ,county ,medical ,association6 ,like ,johann ,most1 he ventured4 ,she blazed at the name4 ,no jokes1 please4 ,most1 too1 has suffered4 ,but ,i am no worshipper of bombs--and beer4 ,this made him laugh1 but as the laugh was not echoed he stared about him4 ,but ,yetta1--we must begin somewhere4 ,i wish to become--to become--something like you4-- ,she interrupted him roughly3 ,to become--you an anarch6 ,you are a sentimental rebel because your stomach is not strong enough for the gourmands who waste their time at your clubs4 ,if your nerves were sound you might make a speech4 ,but the ,new ,england conscience of your forefathers--they were nearly all clergymen1 weren't they8--has ruined your strength4 ,the best thing you can do1 my boy1 is to enter a seminary and later go to ,china as a missionary2 else turn literary and edit an ,american edition of ,who's ,who in ,hell6 ,but leave our ,east ,side alone4 ,do you know what ,new ,york reminds me of8 ,its centre is a strip of green and gold between two smouldering red rivers of fire--the ,east and ,west ,sides4 ,if they ever spill over the banks1 all the little parasites of greater parasites1 the lawyers1 brokers1 bankers1 journalists1 ecclesiastics1 and middle men1 will be devoured4 ,oh1 what a glorious day6 ,and oh1 that terrible night when we marched behind the black flag and muffled drums down ,broadway1 that night in #ahhg when the four martyrs were murdered1 the hero ,lingg having killed himself4 ,what would you have done in those awful times8 ,try me1 he muttered1 as he pulled down his cuffs1 try me6 ,very well1 ,i'll try you4 ,like ,carlo ,cafiero1 the rich ,italian anarch1 you must give your money to us--every cent of it4 ,come with me to-night4 ,i address a meeting of the brethren at ,schwab's place--you know1 the saloon across the street1 off the square4 ,we can eat our supper there1 and then-- ,try me1 he reiterated1 and his voice was hoarse with emotion1 his pulse painfully irregular4 ,,ii ,notwithstanding his vows of heroism1 ,arthur could not force himself to like the establishment of ,schwab1 where the meeting was to take place4 ,it was a beer-saloon1 not one of those mock-medival uptown palaces1 but a long room with a low ceiling1 gaslit and shabby4 ,the tables and chairs of hard1 coarse wood were greasy--napkins and table-cloths were not to be mentioned1 else would the brethren suspect the presence of an aristocrat4 ,at the upper end1 beyond the little black bar1 there was a platform1 upon it a table1 a pianoforte1 and a stool4 ,still he managed to conceal his repugnance to all these uninviting things and he sipped his diluted ,rhine wine1 ate his sandwich--an unpalatable one--under the watchful eyes of his companion4 ,by eight o'clock the room was jammed with working-people1 all talking and in a half dozen tongues4 ,occasionally ,yetta left him to join a group1 and where she went silence fell4 ,she was the oracle of the crowd4 ,at nine o'clock ,arthur's head ached4 ,he had smoked all his ,turkish cigarettes1 the odour of which caused some surprise--there was a capitalist present and they knew him4 ,only ,yetta prevented disagreeable comment4 ,the men1 who belonged to the proletarian class1 were poorly dressed and intelligent2 the women wore shawls on their heads and smoked bad cigarettes4 ,the saloon did not smell nice1 ,arthur thought4 ,he had offered ,yetta one of his imported cigarettes1 but she lighted a horrible weed and blew the smoke in his face4 ,at ten o'clock he wished himself away4 ,but a short1 stout man with a lopsided face showing through his tangled beard1 stood up and said in ,german3-- ,all who are not our friends1 please leave the house4 ,no one stirred4 ,the patron went from group to group saluting his customers and eying those who were not4 ,whether any password or signal was given ,arthur could not say4 ,when the blond1 good-natured ,schwab reached him1 ,yetta whispered in his ear4 ,the host beamed on the young ,american and gave him a friendly poke in the back2 ,arthur felt as if he had been knighted4 ,he said this to ,yetta1 but her attention was elsewhere4 ,the doors and windows were quickly shut and bolted4 ,she nudged his elbow--for they were sitting six at the table1 much to his disgust2 the other four drank noisily--and he followed her to the top of the room4 ,a babble broke out as they moved along4 ,it's ,yetta's new catch4 ,yetta's rich fellow4 ,wait until she gets through with him--poor devil4 ,these broken phrases made him shiver1 especially as ,yetta's expression1 at first enigmatic1 was now openly sardonic4 ,what did she mean8 ,was she only tormenting him8 ,was this to be his test1 his trial8 ,his head was almost splitting1 for the heat was great and the air bad4 ,again he wished himself home4 ,they reached the platform4 ,jump up1 ,arthur1 and help me1 she commanded4 ,he did so4 ,but his discomfiture only grew apace with the increased heat--the dingy ceiling crushed him--and the rows in front1 the entire floor seemed transformed to eyes1 malicious eyes4 ,she told him to sit down at the piano and play the ,marseillaise4 ,then standing before the table she drew from her bosom a scarlet flag1 and accompanied by the enthusiastic shoutings she led the singing4 ,arthur at the keyboard felt exalted4 ,forgotten the pains of a moment before4 ,he hammered the keys vigorously1 extorting from the battered instrument a series of curious croakings4 ,some of the keys did not speak1 some gave forth a brazen clangour from the rusty wires4 ,no one cared4 ,the singing stopped with the last verse4 ,now ,la ,ravachole for our ,french brethren4 ,this combination of revolutionary lyrics--a ,ira and ,carmagnole--was chanted fervidly4 ,then came for the benefit of the ,german the stirring measures from the ,scotch-,german ,john ,henry ,mackay's ,sturm3-- ,das ist der ,kampf1 den allnchtlich ,bevor das ,dunkel zerrinnt1 ,einsam und gramvoll auskmpt ,des ,jahrhunderts verlorenes ,kind4 ,yetta waved her long and beautifully shaped hands--they were her solitary vanity4 ,the audience became still4 ,she addressed them at first in deliberate tones1 and ,arthur noted that the interest was genuine--he wondered how long his fat-witted club friends could endure or appreciate the easy manner in which ,yetta ,silverman quoted from great thinkers1 and sprinkled these quotations with her own biting observations4 ,richard ,wagner--who loved humanity when he wrote ,siegfried and regretted that love in ,parsifal6 ,richard ,wagner--who loved ice-cream more than ,dresden's freedom--,wagner3 the ,swiss family bell-ringer of '#dh6 ,to ,max ,stirner1 ,ibsen1 and ,richard ,strauss belongs the twentieth century6 ,nietzsche--the anarch of aristocrats6 ,karl ,marx--or the selfish ,jew socialist6 ,lassalle--the ,jew comedian of liberty6 ,bernard ,shaw--the clever ,celt who would sacrifice socialism for an epigram4 ,curse all socialists6 she suddenly screamed4 ,arthur1 entranced by the playful manner with which she disposed of friend and foe1 was aghast at this outbreak4 ,he saw another ,yetta4 ,her face was ugly and revengeful4 ,she sawed the air with her thin arms4 ,repeat after me1 she adjured her hearers1 the ,catechism of ,sergei ,netschajew1 but begin with ,herzen's noble motto3 ',long live chaos and destruction6' ,long live chaos and destruction6 was heartily roared4 ,the terrific catechism of the apostle ,netschajew made ,arthur shake with alternate woe and wrath4 ,it was bloody-minded beyond description4 ,like a diabolic litany boomed the questions and answers3-- ,day and night we must have but one thought--inexorable destruction4 ,and ,arthur recalled how this pupil of ,bakounine had with the assistance of ,pryow and ,nicolajew beguiled a certain suspected friend1 ,ivanow1 into a lonely garden and killed him1 throwing the body into a lake4 ,after that ,netschajew disappeared1 though occasionally showing himself in ,switzerland and ,england4 ,finally1 in #ahgb1 he was nabbed by the ,russian government1 sent to ,siberia1 and--6 ,ugh6 thought ,arthur1 what a people1 what an ending6 ,and ,yetta--why did she now so openly proclaim destruction as the only palliative for social crime when she had so eloquently disclaimed earlier in the day the propaganda by force1 by dagger1 and dynamite8--,he had hardly asked himself the question when there came a fierce rapping of wooden clubs at door and window4 ,instantly a brooding hush like that which precedes a hurricane fell upon the gathering4 ,but ,yetta did not long remain silent4 ,quick1 ,arthur1 play the ,star-,spangled ,banner6 ,it's the police4 ,i want to save these poor souls-- she added1 with a gulp in her throat2 quick1 you idiot1 the ,star-,spangled ,banner4 ,but ,arthur was almost fainting4 ,his ringers fell listlessly on the keys1 and they were too weak to make a sound4 ,the police6 he moaned1 as the knocking deepened into banging and shouting4 ,what a scandal6 ,what a disgrace6 ,he could never face his own world after this6 ,to be caught with a lot of crazy anarchists in a den like this6--,smash1 went the outside door6 ,and the newspapers6 ,they would laugh him out of town4 ,he1 ,arthur ,schopenhauer ,wyartz1 the ,amateur ,anarch6 ,he saw the hideous headlines4 ,why1 the very daily in which some of his fortune was invested would be the first to mock him most6 ,the assault outside increased4 ,he leaped to the floor1 where ,yetta was surrounded by an excited crowd4 ,he plucked her sleeve4 ,she gazed at him disdainfully4 ,for ,god's sake1 ,yetta1 get me out of this--this awful scrape4 ,my mother1 my sisters--the disgrace6 ,she laughed bitterly4 ,you poor chicken among hawks6 ,but ,i'll help you--follow me4 ,he reached the cellar stairs1 and she showed him a way by which he could walk safely into the alley1 thence to the street back of their building4 ,he shook her hand with the intensity of a man in the clutches of the ague4 ,but you--why don't you go with me8 he asked1 his teeth chattering4 ,the brittle sound of glass breaking was heard4 ,she answered1 as she took his feverish hand3-- ,because1 you brave revolutionist1 ,i must stick to my colours4 ,farewell6 ,and remounting the stairs1 she saw the bluecoats awaiting her4 ,i hope the police will catch him anyhow1 she said4 ,it was her one relapse into femininity1 and as she quietly surrendered she did not regret it4 ,,iii ,old ,koschinsky's store on the avenue was the joy of the neighbourhood4 ,for hours1 their smeary faces flattened against the glass1 the children watched the tireless antics of the revolving squirrels2 the pouter pigeons expand their breasts into feathered balloons2 the goldfish1 as they stolidly swam1 their little mouths open1 their eyes following the queer human animals imprisoned on the other side of the plate-glass window4 ,canary birds by the hundreds made the shop a trying one for sensitive ears4 ,there were no monkeys4 ,koschinsky1 whose heart was as soft as butter1 though he was a formidable revolutionist--so he swore over at ,schwab's--declared that monkeys were made in the image of tyrannical humans4 ,he would have none of them4 ,parrots8 ,there were enough of the breed around him1 he told the gossiping women1 who1 with their scheitels1 curved noses1 and shining eyes1 lent to the quarter its ,oriental quality4 ,it was in ,koschinsky's place that ,arthur first encountered ,yetta4 ,he was always prowling about the ,east ,side in search of sociological prey1 and the modest little woman with her intelligent and determined face attracted him strongly4 ,they fell into easy conversation near a cage of canaries1 and the acquaintance soon bloomed into a friendship4 ,a week after the raid on ,schwab's1 ,arthur1 very haggard and nervous1 wandered into ,koschinsky's4 ,the old man greeted him3-- ,hu6 ,so you've just come down from the ,island6 ,well--how did you like it up there8 ,plenty water--eh8 ,the sarcasm was too plain1 and the young man1 mumbling some sort of an answer1 turned to go4 ,hold on there6 said ,koschinsky4 ,i expect a very fine bird soon4 ,you'd better wait4 ,it was here only last night2 and the bird asked whether you had been in4 ,arthur started4 ,for me8 ,miss ,silverman8 ,i said a bird1 was the dogged reply4 ,and then ,yetta walked up to ,arthur and asked3-- ,where have you been8 ,why haven't you called8 ,he blushed4 ,i was ashamed4 ,because you were so1 so--frightened1 that night8 ,yes4 ,but nothing came of the affair4 ,the police could get no evidence4 ,we had no flags-- ,that scarlet one ,i saw you with--what of it8 ,she smiled4 ,did you look in your pockets when you got home8 ,i stuffed the flag in one of them while we were downstairs4 ,he burst into genteel laughter4 ,no1 ,i threw off my clothes in such disgust that night that ,i vowed ,i would never get into them again4 ,i gave the suit to my valet4 ,your valet1 she gravely returned2 he may become one of us4 ,fancy1 when ,i reached the house--,i went up in a hansom1 for ,i was bareheaded--my mother was giving the biggest kind of a ball4 ,i had no end of trouble trying to sneak in unobserved4 ,she regarded him steadily4 ,isn't it strange1 she went on1 how the bull-dog police of this town persecute us--and they should be sympathetic4 ,they had to leave their own island because of tyranny4 ,yet as soon as they step on this soil they feel themselves self-constituted tyrants4 ,something of the sort happened with your own ancestors-- she looked at him archly--the ,pilgrim ,fathers were not very tolerant to the ,quakers1 the ,jews1 ,catholics1 or any sect not their own4 ,now you do not seem to have inherited that ear-slicing temperament-- ,oh1 stop1 ,yetta6 ,don't make any more fun of me4 ,i confess ,i am cowardly--,i hate rows and scandals-- ',what shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his liberty8' ,yes1 ,i know4 ,but this was such a nasty little affair4 ,the newspapers would have driven me crazy4 ,but suppose1 for the sake of argument1 she said1 that the row would not have appeared in the newspapers--what then8 ,what do you mean8 ,by ,jove1 there was nothing in the papers1 now that ,i come to think of it4 ,i went the next morning out to ,tuxedo and forgot--what do you mean by this mystery1 ,yetta8 ,i mean this--suppose1 for the sake of further argument1 ,i should tell you that there was no row1 no police1 no arrests6 ,he gasped4 ,o-h1 what an ass ,i made of myself4 ,so that was your trial6 ,and ,i failed4 ,oh1 ,yetta1 ,yetta--what shall ,i say8 ,the girl softened4 ,she took both his hands in her shapely ones and murmured3-- ,dear little boy1 ,i treated you roughly4 ,forgive me6 ,there was a real descent by the police--it was no deception4 ,that's why ,i asked you to play the ,star-,spangled ,banner-- ,excuse me1 ,yetta2 but why did you do that8 ,why didn't you meet the police defiantly chanting the ,marseillaise8 ,that would have been braver--more like the true anarchist4 ,she held down her head4 ,because--because--those poor folks--,i wanted to spare them as much trouble with the police as possible1 she said in her lowest tones4 ,and why1 he pursued triumphantly1 why did you preach bombs after assuring me that reform must come through the spiritual propaganda8 ,she quickly replied3-- ,because our most dangerous foe was in the audience4 ,you know4 ,the man with the beard who first spoke4 ,he has often denounced me as lukewarm2 and then you know words are not as potent as deeds with the proletarians4 ,one assassination is of more value than all the philosophy of ,tolstoy4 ,and that old wind-bag sat near us and watched us--watched me4 ,that's why ,i let myself go-- she was blushing now1 and old ,koschinsky nearly dropped a bird-cage in his astonishment4 ,yetta1 ,yetta6 ,arthur insisted1 wind-bag1 you call your comrade8 ,were you not1 just for a few minutes1 in the same category8 ,again she was silent4 ,i feel now1 he ejaculated1 as he came very close to her1 that we must get outside of these verbal entanglements4 ,i want you to become my wife4 ,his heart sank as he thought of his mother's impassive1 high-bred air--with such a figure for a ,fifth ,avenue bride6 ,the girl looked into his weak blue eyes with their area of saucer-like whiteness4 ,she shook her stubborn head4 ,i shall never marry4 ,i do not believe in such an institution4 ,it degrades women1 makes tyrants of men4 ,no1 ,arthur--,i am fond of you1 perhaps-- she paused1--so fond that ,i might enter into any relation but marriage1--that never6 ,and ,i tell you1 ,yetta1 anarchy or no anarchy1 ,i could never respect the woman if she were not mine legally4 ,in ,america we do these things differently-- he was not allowed to finish4 ,she glared at him1 then she strode to the shop door and opened it4 ,farewell to you1 ,mr4 ,arthur ,schopenhauer ,wyartz1 amateur anarchist4 ,better go back to your mother and sisters6 ,mein ,gott1 ,schopenhauer1 too6 ,he put his ,alpine hat on his bewildered head and without a word went out4 ,she did not look after him1 but walked over to the old bird-fancier and sat on his leather-topped stool4 ,presently she rested her elbows on her knees and propped her chin with her gloveless hands4 ,her eyes were red4 ,koschinsky peeped at her and shook his head4 ,yetta--you know what ,i think6--,yetta1 the boy was right6 ,you shouldn't have asked him for the ,star-,spangled ,banner6 ,the ,marseillaise would have been better4 ,i don't care1 she viciously retorted4 ,i know1 ,i know4 ,but a nice boy--so well fixed4 ,i don't care1 she insisted4 ,i'm married to the revolution4 ,yah1 yah6 the revolution1 ,yetta-- he pushed his lean1 brown forefinger into the cage of an enraged canary--the revolution6 ,yes1 ,yetta ,silverman1 the revolution6 ,she sighed4 ,,xiv ,,hall ,,of ,,the ,,missing ,,footsteps ,so ,i saw in my dream that the man began to run4 --,pilgrim's ,progress4 ,i ,as the first-class carriage rolled languidly out of ,balak's only railway station on a sultry ,february evening1 ,pobloff1 the composer1 was not sorry4 ,i wish it were ,persia instead of ,ramboul1 he reflected4 ,luga1 his wife1 he had left weeping at the station2 but since the day she disappeared with his orchestra for twenty-four hours1 ,pobloff's affection had gradually cooled2 he was leaving the capital without a pang on a month's leave of absence--a delicate courtesy of the king's extended to a brother ruler1 though a semi-barbarous one1 the khedive of ,ramboul4 ,pobloff was not sad nor was he jubilantly glad4 ,the journey was an easy one2 a night and day and the next night would see him1 ,god willing1--he crossed himself1--in the semi-tropical city of ,nirgiz4 ,from ,balak to ,nirgiz1 from southeastern ,europe to ,asia ,minor6 ,the heir-apparent was said to be a music-loving lad1 very much under the cunning thumb of his grim old aunt1 who1 rumour averred1 wore a black beard1 and was the scourge of her little kingdom4 ,all that might be changed when the prince would reach his majority2 his failing health and morbid melancholy had frightened the grand vizier1 and the king of ,balakia had been petitioned to send ,pobloff1 the composer1 designer of inimitable musical masques1 ,pobloff1 the irresistible interpreter of ,chopin1 to the aid of the ailing youth4 ,so this middle-aged ,david left his nest to go harp for a ,saul yet in his adolescence4 ,what his duties were to be ,pobloff had not the slightest idea4 ,he had received no special instructions2 a member of the royal household bore him the official mandate and a purse fat enough to soothe his wife's feelings4 ,after appointing his first violin conductor of the ,balakian ,orchestra during his absence1 the fussy1 stout1 good-natured ,russian 7he was born at ,kiew1 #ahfe1 the biographical dictionaries say7 secured a sleeping compartment on the ,ramboul express1 from the windows of which he contemplated with some satisfaction the flat land that gradually faded in the mists of night as the train tore its way noisily over a rude road-bed4 ,,ii ,pobloff slept4 ,he usually snored2 but this evening he was too fatigued4 ,he heard not the sudden stoppages at lonely way stations where hoarse voices and a lantern represented the life of the place2 he did not heed the engine as it thirstily sucked water from a tank in the heart of the ,karpakians2 and he was surprised1 pleased1 proud1 when a hot ,february sun1 shining through his window1 awoke him4 ,it was six o'clock of a fine morning1 and the train was toiling up a precipitous grade to the spine of the mountain1 where the down-slope would begin and air-brakes rule4 ,pobloff looked about him4 ,he scratched his long nose1 a characteristic gesture1 and began wondering when coffee would be ready4 ,he pressed the bell4 ,the guard entered1 a miserable bandit who bravely wore his peaked hat with green plumes la ,tyrol4 ,he spoke four tongues and many dialects2 ,pobloff calculated his monthly salary at forty roubles4 ,no1 ,excellency1 the coffee will be hot and refreshing at ,kerb1 where we arrive about seven4 ,he cleared his throat1 put out his hand1 bowed low1 and disappeared4 ,the composer grumbled4 ,kerb6--not until that wretched eyrie in the clouds6 ,and such coffee6 ,no matter4 ,pobloff never felt in robuster health2 his irritable nerves were calmed by a sound night's sleep4 ,the air was fresher than down in the malarial valley1 where stood the shining towers of ,balak2 he could see them pinked by the morning sun and low on the horizon4 ,all together he was glad4444 ,hello1 this must be ,kerb6 ,a moment later ,pobloff bellowed for the guard2 he had shattered the electric annunciator by his violence4 ,then1 not waiting to be served1 he ran into the vestibule1 and soon was on the station platform1 inhaling huge drafts of air into his big chest4 ,ah6 ,it was glorious up there4 ,what surprised him was the number of human beings clambering over the steps1 running and gabbling like a lot of animals let loose from their cages4 ,the engineer beside his quivering machine enjoyed his morning coffee4 ,and there were many turbaned pagans and some veiled women mixed with the crowd4 ,the sparkling of bright colours and bizarre costumes did not disturb ,pobloff1 who had lived too long on anonymous borders1 where ,jew1 ,christian1 ,turk1 ,slav1 ,african1 and outlandish folk generally melted into a civilization which still puzzled ethnologists4 ,a negro1 gorgeously clad1 guarding closely a slim female1 draped from head to foot in virginal white1 attracted the musician4 ,the man's face was monstrous in its suggestion of evil1 and furthermore shocking1 because his nose was a gaping hole4 ,evidently a scimiter had performed this surgical operation1 ,pobloff mused4 ,the giant's eyes offended him1 they so stared1 and threateningly4 ,pobloff was not a coward4 ,after his adventure in ,balak1 he feared neither man nor devil1 and he insolently returned the black fellow's gaze4 ,they stood about a buffet and drank coffee4 ,the young woman--her outlines were girlish--did not touch anything2 she turned her face in ,pobloff's direction1 so he fancied1 and spoke at intervals to her attendant4 ,i must be a queer-looking bird to this ,turk and her keeper--probably some ,georgian going to a rich ,mussulman's harem in company with his eunuch1 ,pobloff repeated to himself4 ,a gong was banged4 ,before its strident vibrations had ceased troubling the thin morning air1 the train began to move slowly out of ,kerb4 ,pobloff again was glad4 ,he remained on the rear platform of his car as long as the white station1 beginning to blister under a tropical sun1 was in sight4 ,then he sought his compartment4 ,his amazement and rage were great when he found the two window seats occupied by the negro and the mysterious creature4 ,pobloff's bag was tumbled in a corner1 his overcoat1 hat1 and umbrella tossed to the other end of the room4 ,the big black man bared his teeth smilingly1 the shrouded girl shrank back as if in fear4 ,well1 ,i'll be--6 began the composer4 ,then he leaned over and pushed the button1 the veins in his forehead like whipcords1 his throat parched with wrath4 ,but to no avail--the bell was broken4 ,pobloff's first impulse was to take the smiling ,ethiopian by the neck and pitch him out4 ,there were several reasons why he did not3 the giant looked dangerous2 he plainly carried a brace of pistols1 and at least one dagger1 the jewelled handle of which flashed over his glaring sash of many tints4 ,and then the lady--,pobloff was very gallant1 too gallant1 his wife said4 ,the bell would not ring6 ,what was he to do8 ,he soon made up his mind1 supple ,slav that he was4 ,with a muttered apology he sank back and closed his eyes in polite despair4 ,his consternation was overwhelming when a voice addressed him in ,russian1 a contralto voice of some indefinable timbre1 the voice of a female1 yet not without epicene intonations4 ,his eyes immediately opened4 ,from her gauze veiling the young woman spoke3-- ,we are sorry to derange you4 ,the guard made a mistake4 ,pardon6 ,the tone was slightly condescending1 as if the goddess behind the cloud had deigned to notice a mere mortal4 ,her attendant was smiling1 and to ,pobloff his grin resembled a newly sliced watermelon4 ,but her voice filled him with ecstasy4 ,his ear1 as sensitive as the eye of a ,claude ,monet1 noted every infinitesimal variation in tone-colour1 and each shade was a symbol for the fantastic imagination of this poetic composer4 ,the girlish voice affected him strangely4 ,it pierced his soul like a poniard4 ,it made his spine chilly4 ,it evoked visions of white women languorously moving in processional attitudes beneath the chaste rays of an implacable moon4 ,the voice modulated into crisp morning inflections3-- ,you are going far1 ,excellency8 ,she knew him6 ,and the slave who grinned and grinned and never spoke--what was he8 ,she seemed to follow ,pobloff's thought4 ,hamet is dumb4 ,his tongue was cut at the same time he lost his nose4 ,it all happened at the siege of ,yerkutz4 ,pobloff at last found words4 ,poor fellow6 he said sympathetically1 and then forgot all about the mutilated one4 ,you are welcome to this compartment1 he assured her in his oiliest manner4 ,what surprises me is that ,i did not see your ,serene ,highness when we left ,balak4 ,she started at the title that he bestowed upon her1 and he inwardly chuckled4 ,clever dog1 ,pobloff1 clever dog6 ,her eyes were brilliant despite obstructing veils4 ,i was en route to ,balak yesterday1 but my servant became ill and ,i stopped over night at ,kerb4 ,pobloff was entranced4 ,she was undoubtedly a young dame of noble birth and her freedom1 the freedom of a ,european woman1 delighted him4 ,it also puzzled4 ,how is it--8 he asked4 ,but they had begun that fearful descent1 at once the despair and delight of engineers4 ,the mountain fell away rapidly as the long1 clumsy train raced down its flank at a breakneck pace4 ,pobloff shivered and clutched the arms of his seat4 ,he saw nothing but deep blue sky and the tall top of an occasional tree4 ,the racket was terrific1 the heat depressing4 ,she sat in her corner1 apparently sleeping1 while the giant smiled1 always smiled1 never removing his ugly eyes from the perspiring countenance of ,pobloff4 ,as they neared earth's level1 midday was over4 ,pobloff hungered4 ,before he could go in search of the ever absent guard1 the woman suddenly sat up1 clapped her hands1 and said something2 but whether it was ,turkish1 ,roumanian1 or ,greek1 he couldn't distinguish4 ,a hamper was hauled from under the seat by the servant1 and to his joy ,pobloff saw white rolls1 grapes1 wine1 figs1 and cheese4 ,he bowed and began eating4 ,the others looked at him and for a moment he could have sworn he heard faint laughter4 ,i am so hungry1 he said apologetically4 ,and you1 ,serenity1 won't you join me8 ,he offered her fruit4 ,it was declined with a short nod4 ,he was dying to smoke1 and1 behold6 priceless ,turkish tobacco was thrust into his willing hand4 ,he rolled a stout cigarette1 lighted it4 ,then a sigh reached his ears4 ,the lady smokes1 he thought1 and slyly chuckled4 ,a sound of something tearing was heard1 and a pair of beautiful hands reached for the tobacco4 ,in a few moments the slender fingers were pressing a cigarette2 the slave lighted a wax fusee2 the lady took it1 put the cigarette in a rent of her veil1 and a second volume of odorous vapour arose4 ,pobloff leaned back1 stupefied4 ,a ,mohammedan woman smoking in a ,trans-,caucasian railway carriage before a ,frank6 ,stupendous6 ,he felt unaccountably gay4 ,this is joyful1 he said aloud4 ,she smoked fervently4 ,western manners are certainly invading the ,east1 he continued1 hoping to hear again that voice of marvellous resonance4 ,she smoked4 ,why1 even ,turkish women have been known to study music in ,paris4 ,i am not a ,turk1 she said in her deepest chest tones4 ,pardon6 ,a ,russian1 perhaps8 ,your accent is perfect4 ,i am a ,russian4 ,she did not reply4 ,the day declined1 and there was no more conversation4 ,as the train devoured leagues of swampy territory1 villages were passed4 ,the journey's end was nearing4 ,soon meadows were seen surrounding magnificent villas4 ,a wide1 shallow river was crossed1 the ,oxal2 ,pobloff knew by his pocket map that ,nirgiz was nigh4 ,and for the first time in twenty-four hours he sorrowed4 ,despite his broad invitations and unmistakable hints1 he could not trap his travelling companion into an avowal of her identity1 of her destination4 ,nothing could be coaxed from the giant1 and it was with a sinking heart--,pobloff was very sentimental--that he saw the lights of ,nirgiz2 a few minutes later the train entered the ,oriental station4 ,in the heat1 the clamour of half a thousand voices1 yelling unknown jargons1 his resolution to keep his companions in view went for naught4 ,beset by jabbering porters1 he did not have an opportunity to say farewell to the veiled lady2 with her escort she had disappeared when the car stopped--and without a word of thanks6 ,pobloff was wretched4 ,,iii ,it was past nine o'clock as he roamed the vast garden surrounding the ,palace of a ,thousand ,sounds--thus named because of the tiny bells tinkling about its marble dome4 ,he had eaten an unsatisfying meal in a small antechamber1 waited upon by a stupid servant4 ,and worse still1 the food was ill cooked4 ,on presenting his credentials1 earlier in the evening1 the grand vizier1 a sneaky-appearing man1 had welcomed him coldly1 telling him that her ,serene ,highness was too exhausted to receive so late in the day2 she had granted too many audiences that afternoon4 ,and the prince8 he queried4 ,the prince was away hunting by moonlight1 and could not be seen for at least a day4 ,in the interim1 ,pobloff was told to make himself at home1 as became such a distinguished composer and artistic plenipotentiary of ,balakia's king4 ,then he was bowed out of the chamber1 down the low malachite staircase1 into his supper room4 ,it was all very disturbing to a man of ,pobloff's equable disposition4 ,he thought of ,luga1 his little wife1 his dove2 but not long4 ,she did not appeal to his heart of hearts2 she was a coquette4 ,pobloff sighed4 ,he was midway in his mortal life1 a dangerous period for susceptible manhood4 ,he lifted moist eyes to the stars2 the night was delicious4 ,he rested upon a cushioned couch of stone4 ,about him the moonlight painted the trees1 until they seemed like liquefied ermine2 the palace arose in pyramidal surges of marble to the sky1 meeting the moonbeams as if in friendly defiance1 and casting them back to heaven with triumphant reflections4 ,and the stillness1 profound as the tomb1 was punctuated by glancing fireflies4 ,pobloff hummed melodiously4 ,a night to make music1 whispered a deep1 sweet voice4 ,before he could rise1 his heart bounding as if stung to its centre1 a woman1 swathed in white1 sat beside him1 touched him1 put such a pressure upon his shoulder that his blood began to stir4 ,it was she4 ,he stumbled in his speech4 ,she laughed1 and he ground his teeth1 for this alone saved him from foolishness1 from mad behaviour4 ,maestro--you could make music this lovely night8 ,pobloff started4 ,in ,god's name1 who are you1 and what are you doing here8 ,where did you go this evening8 ,i missed you4 ,ah6 unhappy man that ,i am1 you will drive me crazy6 ,she did not smile now1 but pressed close to him4 ,i am a prisoner--like yourself1 she replied simply4 ,a prisoner6 ,how a prisoner8 ,i am not a prisoner1 but an envoy from my king to the sick princeling4 ,she sighed4 ,the poor1 mad prince1 she said1 he is in need of your medicine1 sadly4 ,he sent for me a year ago1 and ,i am now his prisoner for life4 ,but ,i saw you on the train1 a day's journey hence1 interrupted the musician4 ,yes1 ,i had escaped1 and was being taken back by black ,hamet when we met4 ,pobloff whistled4 ,so the mystery was disclosed4 ,a little white slave from the seraglio of this embryo tyrant had flown the cage6 ,no wonder she was watched1 little surprise that she did not care to eat4 ,he straightened himself1 the hair on his round head like porcupine quills4 ,my dear young lady1 he exclaimed in accents paternal1 leave all to me4 ,if you do not wish to stay in this place1 you may rely on me4 ,when ,i see this same young man1--he must be a nice sprig of royalty6--,i propose to tell him what ,i think of him4 ,pobloff threw out his chest and snorted with pride4 ,again he fancied that he heard suppressed laughter4 ,he darted glances in every direction1 but the fall of distant waters smote upon his ears like the crepuscular music of ,chopin4 ,his companion shook with ill-suppressed emotion4 ,it was some time before she could speak4 ,pobloff1 she begged1 in her dangerous contralto1 a contralto like the medium register of a clarinet1 ,pobloff1 let me adjure you to be careful4 ,your coming here has caused political disturbances4 ,the aunt of the prince hates music as much as he adores it4 ,she is no party to your invitation4 ,so be on your guard4 ,even now there may be spies in the shrubbery4 ,she put her hand on his arm4 ,it was too much4 ,in an instant1 despite her feeble struggle1 the ardent musician grasped the creature that had tantalized him since morning1 and kissed her a dozen times4 ,his head whirled4 ,pobloff6 ,pobloff6 a voice cried in his brain--and only yesterday you left your ,luga1 your pretty pigeon1 your wife6 ,the girl was dragged away from him4 ,in the moonshine he saw the grinning ,hamet1 suspiciously observing him4 ,the runaway stood up and pressed ,pobloff's hand desperately1 uttering the cry of her forlorn heart3-- ,don't play in the great hall2 don't play in that accursed place4 ,you will be asked1 but refuse4 ,make any excuse1 but do not set foot on its ebon floors4 ,he was so confused by the strangeness of this adventure1 so confused by the admonition of the unknown when he saw her white draperies disappear1 that his jaw fell and his courage wavered4 ,a moment later two oddly caparisoned soldiers1 bearing lights1 approached1 and in the name of her ,highness invited him make midnight music in the ,palace of a ,thousand ,sounds4 ,,iv ,seated before a ,steinway grand pianoforte1 an instrument that found its way to this far-away province through the caprice of some artistic potentate1 ,pobloff nervously preluded4 ,notwithstanding the warning of the girl1 he had allowed himself to be convoyed to the great ,hall of ,ebony1 and there1 quite alone1 he sat waiting for some cue to begin4 ,none came4 ,he glanced curiously about him4 ,for all the signs of humanity he might as well have been on the heights of ,kerb1 out among its thorny groves1 or in its immemorial forests4 ,he preluded as he gazed around4 ,he could see1 by the dim light of two flambeaux set in gold sconces1 column after column of blackness receding into inky depths of darkness4 ,a fringe of light encircled his instrument1 and beside him was a gallery1 so vast that it became a gulf of the infinite at a hundred paces4 ,now1 ,pobloff was a brave man4 ,he believed that once upon a time he had peered into strange crevices of space2 what novelty could existence hold for him after that shuddering experience8 ,again he looked into the tenebrous recesses of the hall4 ,he saw nothing1 heard nothing4 ,his fingers went their own way over the keyboard4 ,finally1 following some latent impulse1 they began to shape the opening measures of ,chopin's ,second ,ballade1 the one of the enigmatic tonalities1 sometimes called ,the ,lake of the ,mermaids4 ,it began with the chanting1 childish refrain1 a ,lithuanian fairy-tale of old1 and as its nave1 drowsy1 lulling measures--the voices of wicked1 wooing sirens--sang and sank in recurrent rhythms1 ,pobloff heard--this time he was sure--the regular reverberation of distant footsteps4 ,it was as if the monotonous beat of the music were duplicated in some sounding mirror1 some mirror that magnified hideously1 hideously mimicked the melody4 ,yet these footfalls murmured as a sea-shell4 ,every phrase stood out before the pianist1 exquisitely clear2 his brain had only once before harboured such an exalted mood4 ,there was the expectation of great things coming to pass2 dim rumours of an apocalyptic future1 when the glory that never was on sea or land should rend the veil of the visible and make clear all that obscures and darkens4 ,the transfiguration which informs the soul of one taken down in epileptic seizure possessed him4 ,every cranny of his being was flooded with overmastering light--and the faint sound of footsteps marking sinister time to his music1 drew closer1 closer4 ,shaking off an insane desire to join his voice in the immortal choiring of the ,cherubim1 ,pobloff dashed into the passionate storm-scream of the music1 and like a pack of phantom bloodhounds the footsteps pressed him in the race4 ,he played as run men from starving wolves in ,siberian wastes4 ,to stop would mean--,god6 what would it mean8 ,these were no mortal steps that crowded upon his sonorous trail4 ,his fingers flew over the keys as he finished the scurrying tempests of tone4 ,again the first swaying refrain1 and ,pobloff heard the invisible multitude of feet pause in the night1 as if waiting the moment when the ,ballade would cease4 ,he quivered2 the surprises and terrors were telling upon his well-seasoned nerves4 ,still he sped on1 fearing the tremendous outburst at the close1 where ,chopin throws overboard his soul1 and with blood-red sails signals the hellish ,willis1 the ,lamias of the lake1 to his side4 ,ah1 if ,pobloff could but thus portion his soul as hostage to the infernal host that now hemmed him in on all sides6 ,riding over the black and white rocks of his keyboard1 he felt as if in the clutches of an unknown force4 ,he discerned death in the distance--death and the unknown horror--and was powerless to resist4 ,still the galloping of unseen feet1 horrible1 naked flesh1 that clattered and scraped the earth2 the panting1 hoarse and subdued1 of a mighty pack1 whose thirst for destruction1 for revenge1 was unslaked4 ,and always the same trampling of human feet6 ,were they human8 ,did not resilient bones tell the tale of brutes viler than men8 ,the glimmering lights seemed cowed1 as they sobbed in vacuity and slowly expired4 ,pobloff no longer asked himself what it meant2 he was become a maniac1 pursued by deathless devils4 ,he could have flown to the end of the universe in this ,ballade2 but1 at last1 his heart cracking1 head bursting1 face livid1 overtaken by the ,footsteps of the ,missing1 he smashed both fists upon the keys and fell forward despairingly4444 99 99 99 99 99 444 ,the gigantic1 noseless negro1 the grand vizier himself1 sternly regarded the prince1 who stood1 torch in hand1 near the shattered pianoforte4 ,the dumb spoke3-- ,let us hope1 ,exalted ,highness1 that your masquerades and mystifications are over forever4 ,to-day's prankish sport may put us to trouble for a satisfactory explanation4 ,he waved his hand vaguely in the direction of the prostrate composer4 ,and hasheesh sometimes maddens for a lifetime6 ,he lightly touched the drugged ,pobloff with his enormous foot4 ,the youthful runaway ashamedly lowered his head--in reality he adored music with all the fulness of his cruel1 faunlike nature4 ,,xv ,,the ,,cursory ,,light ,to this day ,pinton could never explain why he looked out of that pantry window4 ,he had reached his home in a hungry condition4 ,he was tired and dead broke1 so he had resolved to forage4 ,he had listened for two or three1 perhaps five1 minutes in the hall of his boarding-house2 then he went1 soft-footed1 to ,mrs4 ,hallam's pantry on the second floor4 ,he was sure that it was open1 he was equally sure that it contained something edible on its hospitable shelves4 ,ah6 who has not his bread at midnight stolen1 ye heavenly powers1 ye know him not6 ,pinton1 however1 knew one thing1 and that was a ravenous desire to sink his teeth into pie1 custard1 or even bread4 ,he felt with large1 eager hands along the wall on the pantry side4 ,with feverish joy he touched the knob--a friendly knob1 despite its cold1 distant glaze--of the door he sought4 ,pinton gave a tug1 and then his heart stopped beating4 ,the door was locked4 ,something like a curse1 something like a prayer1 rose to his lips1 and his arms fell helplessly to his side4 ,mrs4 ,hallam1 realizing that it was ,saturday night--the predatory night of the week--had secured her pastry1 her confitures1 her celebrated desserts2 and so poor ,pinton1 all his sweet teeth furiously aching1 his mouth watering1 stood on the hither side of ,paradise1 a baffled peri in pantaloons6 ,after a pause1 full of pain and troublous previsions of a restless1 discontented night1 ,pinton grew angry and pulled at the knob of the door1 thinking1 perhaps1 that it might abate a jot of its dignified resistance4 ,it remained immovable1 grimly antagonistic1 until his fingers grew hot and cold as they touched a bit of cold metal4 ,the key in the lock6 ,in a second it was turned1 and the hungry one was within and restlessly searching and fumbling for food4 ,he felt along the lower shelves and met apples1 oranges1 and sealed bottles containing ruined1 otherwise miscalled preserved1 fruit4 ,he knelt on the dresser and explored the upper shelf4 ,ah1 here was richness indeed6 ,pies1 pies1 cakes1 pies1 frosted cakes1 cakes sweating golden1 fruity promises1 and cakes as icy as the hand of charity4 ,pinton was happy1 glutton that he was1 and he soon filled the pockets of his overcoat4 ,what ,mrs4 ,hallam might say in the morning he cared not4 ,let the galled jade wince1 his breakfast appetite would be unwrung2 and then he started violently1 lost his balance1 and almost fell to the floor4 ,opposite him was the window of the pantry1 which faced the wall of the next house4 ,pinton had never been in the pantry by daylight1 so he was rudely shocked by the glance of a light--a cursory1 moving light4 ,it showed him a window in the other house and a pair of stairs4 ,it flickered about an old baluster and a rusty carpet1 it came from below1 it mounted upward and was lost to view4 ,the burglar of pies1 the ravisher of cakes1 was almost shocked by this unexpected light4 ,he watched it dancing fantastically on the discoloured wall of the house2 he wondered--ill at ease--if it would flash in his face4 ,his surmise was realized1 for a streak of illumination reached the narrow chamber in which he cowered1 and then he was certain some one was looking at him4 ,he never budged1 for he was too frightened4 ,suddenly the light vanished and a head was dimly silhouetted in the window opposite4 ,it nodded to ,pinton4 ,pinton stared stupidly1 and the head disappeared4 ,the hungry man1 his appetite now gone1 was numb and terrified4 ,what did it mean1 who was the man8 ,a detective1 or a friend of ,mrs4 ,hallam's in a coign from which the plunderers of her pantry could be noted8 ,beady repentance stood out on ,pinton's forehead4 ,and the light came back4 ,this time it was intelligible1 for it was a lantern in the hand of a young man of about thirty4 ,his face was open and smiling4 ,he wore his hair rather long for an ,american1 and it was blond and curling4 ,he surveyed ,pinton for a moment1 then he said1 in a most agreeable voice3-- ,what luck1 old pal8 ,pinton dropped his pies1 slammed the window1 and got to his bedroom as fast as his nervous legs could carry him4 ,he undressed in a nightmare1 and did not sleep until the early summer sun shot hot shafts of heat into his chamber4 ,with a shamed ,sabbath face he arose1 dressed1 and descended to his morning meal4 ,mrs4 ,hallam was sitting in orotund silence1 but seemed in good humour4 ,she asked him casually if he had enjoyed his ,saturday evening1 and quite as casually damned the wandering cats that had played havoc in her pantry4 ,she remarked that leaving windows open was a poor practice1 even if hospitable in appearance1 and nervous ,mr4 ,pinton drank his coffee in silent assent and then hurried off to the church where he trod the organ pedals for a small salary's sake4 ,the following ,friday was rehearsal night1 and the organist left his choir in a bad humour4 ,his contralto had not attended1 and as she was the only artiste and the only good-looking girl of the lot1 ,pinton took it into his head to become jealous4 ,she had not paid the slightest attention to him1 so he could not attribute her absence to a personal slight2 but he felt aggrieved and vaguely irritated4 ,pinton's musicianship was not profound4 ,he had begun life as an organ salesman4 ,he manipulated the cabinet organ for impossible customers in ,wisconsin1 and he came to ,new ,york because he was offered a better chance4 ,the inevitable church position occurred4 ,then came ,zundel voluntaries and hard pedal practice4 ,at last ,mendelssohn's organ sonatas were reached and with them a call--organists1 like pastors1 have calls--to a fashionable church4 ,the salary was fair and ,mr4 ,pinton grew side-whiskers4 ,he heard ,paderewski play ,chopin1 and became a crazy lover of the piano4 ,he hired a small upright and studied finger exercises4 ,he consulted a thousand books on technic1 and in the meantime could not play ,czerny's velocity studies4 ,he grew thin1 and sought the advice of many pianists4 ,he soon found that pressing your foot on the swell and pulling couplers for tone colour were not the slightest use in piano playing4 ,subtle finger pressures1 the unloosening of the muscles1 the delicate art of nuance1 the art unfelt by many organists1 all were demanded of the pianist1 and ,pinton almost despaired4 ,he grew contemptuous of the king of instruments as he essayed the ,c major invention of ,bach4 ,he sneered at stops and pedals1 and believed1 in his foolish way1 that all polyphony was bound within the boards of the ,well-,tempered ,clavichord4 ,then the new alto came to the choir1 and ,pinton--at being springtide1 when the blood is in the joyful mood--thought that he was in love4 ,he was really athirst4 ,this ,friday evening he was genuinely disappointed and thirsty4 ,he turned with a sinking heart and parched throat into ,pop ,pusch's dearly beloved resort4 ,earlier in his life he had often solaced himself with the free lunch that ,john1 the melancholy waiter1 had dispensed4 ,pinton's mind was a prey to many emotions as he entered the famous old place4 ,he sat down before a brown table and clamoured for amber beer4 ,he was not alone at the table4 ,as ,pinton put the glass of ,pilsner to his lips he met the gaze of two sardonic eyes4 ,he could not finish his glass4 ,he returned the look of the other man and then arose1 with a nervous jerk that almost upset the table4 ,sit down1 old pal2 don't be crazy4 ,i'll never say a word4 ,sit down1 you fool2 don't you see people are looking at you8 ,the voice was low1 kindly in intonation1 but it went through ,pinton like a saw biting its way into wood4 ,he sat down all in a heap4 ,he knew the eyes2 he knew the voice4 ,it was the owner of the dark lantern--the mysterious man in the other house of that last ,saturday night4 ,pinton felt as if he were about to become ill4 ,lord1 but you are a nervous one6 said the other1 most reassuringly4 ,sit still and ,i'll order brandy4 ,it will settle your stomach4 ,that brought ,pinton to his senses at once4 ,no1 no1 ,i'll be all right in a moment1 he said rather huskily4 ,i never drink spirits4 ,thank you1 all the same4 ,don't mention it1 said the man1 and he tossed off his ,wrzburger4 ,each man stealthily regarded the other4 ,pinton saw the stranger of the lantern and staircase4 ,close by he was handsome and engaging4 ,his hair was worn like a violin virtuoso's1 and his hands were white1 delicate1 and well cared for4 ,he spoke first4 ,how did you make out on that job8--,i don't fancy there was much in it4 ,boarding-houses1 you know6 ,pinton1 every particle of colour leaving his flabby face1 asked3-- ,what job8 ,the stranger looked at him keenly and went on rather ironically3-- ,you are the most nervous duck ,i ever ran across4 ,when ,i saw you last your pocket was full of the silver plate of that pantry1 and ,i can thank you for a fright myself1 for when ,i saw you1 ,i was just getting ready to crack a neat little crib4 ,say6 why didn't you flash your glim at me or make some friendly signal at least8 ,you popped out of sight like a prairie rabbit when a coyote heaves in view4 ,pinton felt the ground heave beneath him4 ,what possible job could the man mean8 ,what was a glim1 and what did the fellow suggest by silver plate8 ,then it struck him all of a sudden4 ,heavens6 he was taken for a burglar by a burglar4 ,his presence in the pie pantry had been misinterpreted by a cracksman2 and he1 the harmless organist of ,dr4 ,bulgerly's church1 was claimed as the associate of a dangerous1 perhaps notorious1 thief4 ,pinton's cup of woe overflowed4 ,he arose1 put on his hat1 and started to go4 ,the young man grasped his arm1 and said in a most conciliatory fashion3-- ,perhaps ,i have hurt your sensitive nature4 ,it was far from my intention to do so4 ,i saluted you at first in the coarse1 conventional manner which is expected by members of our ancient and honourable craft1 and if ,i have offended you1 ,i humbly beg your pardon4 ,his accent was that of a cultivated gentleman4 ,pinton1 somewhat assured1 dropped back in his seat1 and1 ,john passing by just then1 more beer was ordered4 ,hear me before you condemn me1 said the odd young man4 ,my name is ,blastion and ,i am a burglar by profession4 ,when ,i saw you the other night1 at work on the premises next door to me1 ,i was struck by your refined face4 ,i said to myself3 ',at last the profession is being recruited by gentlemen1 men of culture1 men of refinement4 ,at last a profitable1 withal risky1 pursuit is being dignified1 nay1 graced1 by the proper sort of person4' ,and ,i saluted you in a happy1 haphazard fashion1 and then you flew the coop4 ,pardon my relapse into the vernacular4 ,pinton felt that it was time to speak4 ,pardon me1 if ,i interrupt you1 ,mr4 ,blastion2 but ,i fear we are not meeting on equal ground4 ,you take me for a--for a man of your profession4 ,indeed1 sir1 you are mistaken4 ,when you discovered me last ,saturday night ,i was in the pantry of ,mrs4 ,hallam1 my boarding-house keeper1 searching for pie4 ,i am not a burglar--pardon my harsh expression2 ,i am1 instead1 an organist by profession4 ,the pallor of the burglar's countenance testified to the gravity of his feeling4 ,he stared and blushed1 looked apprehensively at the various groups of domino players in the back room1 then1 pulling himself together1 he beckoned to melancholy ,john1 and said3-- ,johann1 two more beers1 please4 ,yes8 ,pinton became interested4 ,there was something appealing in the signal the man flashed from his eyes when he realized that he had unbosomed himself to a perfect stranger1 and not to a member of his beloved guild4 ,the organist put his hand on the man's arm and said--faint memories of flatulent discourses from the ,reverend ,bulgerly coming to his aid3 ,be not alarmed1 my friend4 ,i will not betray you4 ,i am a musician1 but ,i respect art ever1 even when it reveals itself in manifold guises4 ,pinton felt that he was a man of address1 a fellow of some wit2 his confidential and rather patronizing pose moved his companion1 who slyly grimaced4 ,so you are an organist and not a member of the noble ,knights of the ,centrebit and ,jimmy8 he asked rather sarcastically4 ,yes1 admitted ,pinton1 ,i am an organist1 and an organist who would fain become a pianist4 ,the other started4 ,i am a pianist myself1 and yet ,i cannot say that ,i would like to play the organ4 ,you are a pianist8 said ,pinton1 in a puzzled voice4 ,well1 why not8 ,i studied in ,paris1 and ,i suppose my piano technic stood me in good stead in my newer profession4 ,just look at my hands if you doubt my word4 ,aghast1 the organist examined the shapely hands before him4 ,without peradventure of a doubt they were those of a pianist1 an expert pianist1 and one who had studied assiduously4 ,he was stupefied4 ,a burglar and a pianist6 ,what next8 ,mr4 ,blastion continued his edifying remarks3 ,yes1 ,i studied very hard4 ,i was born in the ,southwest1 and went to ,paris quite young4 ,i had good fingers and was deft at sleight-of-hand tricks4 ,i could steal a handkerchief from a rabbi--which is saying volumes--and ,i played all the ,chopin tudes before ,i was fifteen4 ,at twenty-one ,i knew twenty-five concertos from memory1 and my great piece was the ,don ,juan ,fantasy4 ,oh1 ,i was a wonder6 ,when ,liszt paid his last visit to ,paris ,i played before him at the warerooms of the ,pleyels4 ,monsieur ,thodore ,ritter was anxious for his old master to hear such a pupil4 ,i assure you there must be some congenital twist of evil in me1 for ,i couldn't for the life of me forbear picking the old fellow's pockets and lifting his watch4 ,now don't look scandalized1 ,mr4 ---- eh8 ,oh6 thank you very much1 ,mr4 ,pinton4 ,if you are born that way1 all the punishments and preachments--excuse the alliteration--will not stand in your way as a warning4 ,i have done time--,i mean ,i have served several terms of imprisonment1 but luckily not for a long period4 ,i suffered most by my incarceration in not having a piano4 ,not even a dumb keyboard was allowed1 and ,i practised the ,jackson finger exercises in the air and thus kept my fingers limber4 ,on ,saturdays the warden allowed me1 as a special favour1 to practise on the cabinet organ--an odious instrument--so as to enable me to play on ,sundays in chapel4 ,of course no practice was needed for the wretched music we poor devils howled once a week1 but ,i gained one afternoon in seven for study by my ruse4 ,oh1 the joy of feeling the ivory--or bone--under my expectant fingers6 ,i played all the ,chopin1 ,henselt1 and ,liszt tudes on the miserable keyboard of the organ4 ,yes1 of course1 without wind4 ,it was1 ,i assure you1 a truly spiritual consolation4 ,you can readily imagine if a man has been in the habit of practising all day1 even if he does 'burgle' at night1 that to be suddenly deprived of all instrumental resources is a bitter blow4 ,pinton stuttered out an affirmative response4 ,then both arose after paying their checks1 and the organist shook the burglar's hand at the corner1 after first exacting a promise that ,blastion should play for him some morning4 ,with pleasure1 my boy4 ,you're a gentleman and an artist1 and ,i trust you absolutely4 ,and he walked away1 whistling with rare skill the ,d flat valse of ,chopin4 ,you can trust me1 ,i swear6 ,pinton called after him1 and then went unsteadily homeward1 full of generous resolves and pianistic ambitions4 ,as he intermittently undressed he discovered1 to his rage and amazement1 that both his purse and watch had disappeared4 ,the one was well filled2 the other1 gold4 ,blastion's technic had proved unimpeachable4 ,,xvi ,,an ,,iron ,,fan ,effinghame waited for ,dr4 ,arn in the study1 a small chamber crowded with the contents of the universe--so it seemed to the visitor4 ,there was a table unusual in size1 indeed1 big enough to dissect a body thereon4 ,it was littered with books and medical publications and was not very attractive4 ,the walls were covered with original drawings of famous ,japanese masters1 and over the fireplace hung a huge fan1 dull gray in colouring1 with long sandalwood spokes4 ,not a noteworthy example of ,japanese art1 thought ,effinghame1 as he glanced without marked curiosity at its neutral tinting1 though he could not help wondering why the cunning artificers of the ,east had failed to adorn the wedge-shaped surfaces of this fan with their accustomed bold and exquisite arabesques4 ,he impatiently paced the floor4 ,his friend had told him to come at nine o'clock in the evening4 ,it was nearly ten4 ,then he began to finger things4 ,he fumbled the papers in the desk4 ,he examined the two ,japanese swords--light as ivory1 keen as razors4 ,he stared at each of the prints1 at ,hokusai1 ,toyokimi1 ,kuniyoshi1 ,kiyonaga1 ,kiosai1 ,hiroshigh1 ,utamaro1 ,oukoyo-,y1--the doctor's taste was ,oriental4 ,and again he fell to scrutinizing the fan4 ,it was large1 ugly1 clumsy4 ,what possessed ,arn to place such a sprawling affair over his mantel8 ,tempted to touch it1 he discovered that it was as silky as a young bat's wing4 ,at last1 his curiosity excited1 he lifted it with some straining to the floor4 ,what puzzled him was its weight4 ,he felt its thin ribs1 its soft1 paper-like material1 and his fingers chilled as they closed on the two outermost spokes4 ,they were of metal1 whether steel or iron he could not determine4 ,a queer fan this1 far too heavy to stir the air1 and-- ,effinghame held the fan up to the light4 ,he had perceived a shadowy figure in a corner4 ,it resolved itself into a man's head--bearded1 scowling1 crowned with thorns or sunbeams4 ,it was probably a ,krishna4 ,but how came such a face on a ,japanese fan8 ,the type was ,oriental1 though not ,mongolian1 rather ,semitic4 ,it vaguely recalled to ,effinghame a head and face he had seen in a famous painting4 ,but where and by whom8 ,it wore a vile expression1 the eyes mean and revengeful2 there was a cruel mouth and a long1 hooked1 crafty nose4 ,the forehead was lofty1 even intellectual1 and bore its thorns--yes1 he was sure they were thorns--like a conqueror4 ,just then ,dr4 ,arn entered and laughed when he saw the other struggling with the fan4 ,my ,samurai fan6 he exclaimed1 in his accustomed frank tones2 how did you discover it so soon8 ,you've kept me here an hour4 ,i had to do something1 answered the other1 sulkily4 ,there1 there1 ,i apologize4 ,sit down1 old man4 ,i had a very sick patient to-night1 and ,i feel worn out4 ,i'll ring for champagne4 ,they talked about trifling personal matters1 when suddenly ,effinghame asked3-- ,why ,samurai8 ,i had supposed this once belonged to some prehistoric giant who could waft it as do ladies their bamboo fans1 when they brush the dust from old hearts--as the ,spanish poet sang4 ,that fan is interesting enough1 was the doctor's reply4 ,when a ,samurai1 one of the warrior caste ,japanese1 was invited to the house of a doubtful friend1 he carried this fan as a weapon of defence4 ,compelled to leave his two swords behind a screen1 he could close this fighting machine and parry the attack of his hospitable enemy until he reached his swords4 ,just try it and see what a formidable weapon it would prove4 ,he took up the fan1 shut it1 and swung it over his head4 ,look out for the bottles6 cried ,effinghame4 ,never fear1 old chap4 ,and did you notice the head8 ,that's what most puzzled me4 ,no wonder4 ,i too was puzzled--until ,i found the solution4 ,and it took me some years--yes1 all the time you were in ,paris learning how to paint and live4 ,he paused1 and his face became gloomy4 ,well--well8 ,there is no well4 ,it's a damned bad fan1 that iron one1 and ,i don't mind saying so to you4 ,superstitious--you6 ,where is your ,haeckel1 your ,wundt1 your ,weismann8 ,do you still believe in the infallibility of the germ-plasm8 ,has the fan brought you ill-luck8 ,the fact is1 ,arn1 ever since your return from ,china you've been a strange bird6 ,it was ,effinghame's turn to laugh4 ,don't say another word4 ,the doctor was vivacious in a moment and poured out wine4 ,they both lighted cigars4 ,slowly puffing1 ,arn took up the fan and spread it open4 ,see here6 ,that head1 as you must have noticed1 is not ,japanese4 ,it's ,jewish4 ,do you recall the head of ,judas painted by ,da ,vinci in his ,last ,supper8 ,now isn't this old scoundrel's the exact duplicate--well1 if not exact1 there is a very strong resemblance4 ,effinghame looked and nodded4 ,and what the devil is it doing on a fan of the ,samurai8 ,it's not caprice4 ,no ,japanese artist ever painted in that style or ever expressed that type4 ,i thought the thing out and came to the conclusion-- ,yes--yes6 ,what conclusion8 eagerly interrupted his listener4 ,to the conclusion that ,i could never unravel such a knotty question alone4 ,effinghame was disappointed4 ,so ,i had recourse to an ally--to the fan itself1 blandly added ,arn1 as he poured out more wine4 ,the fan8 ,precisely--the fan4 ,i studied it from tip to tip1 as our bird-shooting friends say1 and ,i1 at last1 discovered more than a picture4 ,you know ,i am an ,orientalist4 ,when ,i was at ,johns ,hopkins ,university ,i attended the classes of the erudite ,blumenfeld1 and what you can't learn from him--need ,i say any more8 ,one evening ,i held the fan in front of a vivid electric light and at once noticed serried lines4 ,these ,i deciphered after a long time4 ,another surprise4 ,they were ,chinese characters of a remotely early date--,heaven knows how many dynasties back6 ,now what1 you will ask1 is ,chinese doing on a ,samurai fighting fan6 ,i don't know4 ,i never shall know4 ,but ,i do know that this fan contains on one side of it the most extraordinary revelation ever vouchsafed mankind1 particularly ,christian mankind4 ,excited by his own words1 ,arn arose4 ,effinghame1 my dear fellow1 ,i know you have read ,renan4 ,if ,renan had seen the communication on this iron fan1 he would have never written his life of the ,messiah4 ,his eyes blazed4 ,why1 what do you mean8 ,i mean that it might have been a life of ,judas ,iscariot4 ,good ,god1 man1 are you joking8 ejaculated ,effinghame4 ,i mean1 sternly pursued ,arn1 that if ,de ,quincey had studied this identical fan1 the opium-eater would have composed another gorgeous rhetorical plea for the man prelected to betray his ,saviour1 the apostle who spilt the salt4 ,he sat down and breathed heavily4 ,go on6 ,go on6 ,shall ,i relate the history upon the fan8 ,and without waiting for an answer he began at the left of the fan and slowly read to the right3-- ,i who write this am called ,mo the ,bonze4 ,what ,i write of ,i witnessed in a walled city of ,judea4 ,i travelled there attracted by the report of miraculous happenings brought about by the magic art of a youthful barbarian called ,ieshua4 ,the day ,i arrived in the city they had sentenced the wise man to death by crucifixion4 ,i was disappointed4 ,i had come many moons and many leagues from the ,yellow ,kingdom to see something rare4 ,i was too late4 ,the magician1 whom his disciples called a god1 had been executed4 ,i tarried a few days in the city4 ,after many questions put to beggars and outcasts1 ,i heard that a certain woman of rank had a portrait of ,ieshua4 ,i called and without hesitation asked her to show me this picture4 ,she was an exalted soul4 ,she wept bitter tears as she drew from a secret cabinet a scarf upon which was imprinted a bloody image4 ,she continued to weep as ,i made a copy of the head4 ,i confess ,i was not impressed4 ,the face was bearded and ugly4 ,the new god was said to have been as fair as the sun4 ,and ,i told the woman this4 ,she only wept the more4 ,if he were a god1 ,i asked1 where are outward evidences8 ,she became frantic4 ,the real man6 she cried2 this one died for the man he betrayed1 and again fell to lamenting4 ,seeing ,i could gain nothing more from her1 ,i left1 wondering at the strange heretics ,i had encountered4 ,i went back to my country and after weaving this tale and painting the head1 there awaited the fifth ,buddha1 the successor to ,siddartha1 whose coming has been predicted4 ,arn's voice ceased4 ,there was silence in the chamber4 ,then ,effinghame started up and fiercely growled3-- ,what do you make of it1 ,arn8 ,isn't it clear enough8 ,there's been a frightful error somewhere1 one of incalculable consequences4 ,a tremendous act of heroism has been committed by a man whose name has been universally execrated through the ages4 ,perhaps he repented at the eleventh hour and by some means impersonated his betrayed friend2 perhaps-- ,but that other body found in the blasted field of ,aceldama6 demanded the agitated ,effinghame4 ,dr4 ,arn did not answer4 ,after a lugubrious pause1 he whispered3-- ,there's more to follow4 ,you haven't heard the worst4 ,what--more6 ,i thought your damnable old ,bonze died in the odour of sanctity over there in his ,yellow ,kingdom4 ,true4 ,he died4 ,but before he died he recorded a vision he had4 ,it is inscribed on the other side of the fan4 ,effinghame's features lengthened4 ,still the same fan4 ,the same4 ,here is what it prophesies4 ,reversing the clumsy fan1 ,arn again read3-- ,before ,i pass over into ,nirvana ,i must relate what ,i saw in the country of the ,christians4 ,it was not a dream4 ,it was too real4 ,and yet it is to be1 for it has not yet happened4 ,the ,campagna was now become a shallow lake from the sea almost to the ,sabine ,mountains4 ,what had been ,rome was a black waste spot1 full of stones and weeds4 ,and no two stones stood together4 ,ah6 our war with the white races had been successful4 ,we had not used their fighting machines1 as did that nation of little brown men1 the ,japanese4 ,the ,chinese were too sage4 ,they allowed the ,christians to exterminate the ,japanese2 but when they attacked us and attempted to rob us of our land1 we merely resorted to our old-time weapon--the ,odour-,death4 ,with it we smothered their armies1 sunk their navies1 swept through their countries like the simoon4 ,the awful secret of the ,odour-,death is one that has been ours from the beginning of time4 ,known only to the ,college of ,bonzes1 it was never used except in extreme peril4 ,its smell is more revolting in its consequences than the ,black ,plague4 ,it ravaged the earth4 ,i sat in a flat-bottomed boat1 enjoying the soft melancholy ,italian evening4 ,not a human did ,i see2 nor had ,i encountered one on my slow voyage from the ,middle ,seas4 ,in meditation ,i pondered the ultimate wisdom of ,confucius and smiled at the folly of the white barbarians who had tried to show us a new god1 a new religion4 ,at last they1 too1 had succumbed like the nations before their era4 ,the temple of ,jupiter on the ,capitol had fallen1 so had the holy temple of ,jerusalem4 ,and now ,st4 ,peter's4 ,their central religion had been destroyed1 and yet prophecies of the second coming of their divinity had not been accomplished4 ,when the last ,pope of ,rome dies1 so it was said1 then time would be accomplished4 ,the last ,pope had died4 ,their basilica with its mighty dome was a desert where scorpions and snakes abounded4 ,the fifth ,buddha would appear1 not the second ,christos4 ,suddenly ,i saw before me in a puny boat a beautiful beardless youth4 ,he was attired in some symbolical garments and upon his head a triple tiara4 ,i could not believe my aged eyes4 ,he sat upright4 ,his attitude was hieratic4 ,his eyes were lifted heavenwards4 ,he clasped his hands and prayed3-- ,o ,lord1 remove thy servant4 ,the time is at hand foretold by thy slaughtered saints4 ,i am the last ,pope and the humblest of thy servants4 ,though the heathen hath triumphed upon the earth1 ,i go to thy bosom1 for all things are now accomplished4 ,and he tumbled forward1 dead4 ,the last ,pope6 ,i had seen him4 ,nothing could happen after that4 ,and as ,i turned my boat in the direction of the sea a moaning came upon the waters4 ,the sky became as brass4 ,a roar1 like the rending asunder of the firmament1 caused my soul to expand with horror and joy4 ,yes1 time was accomplished4 ,the last ,pope had uttered the truth4 ,eternity was nigh4 ,but the ,buddha would now prove to the multitudes awakened from their long sleep that ,he1 not other gods1 was the true1 the only ,god4 ,in a flare of light sounded the trumpets of destiny2 eternity unrolled before me1 and on the vast plain ,i saw the bones of the buried dead uniting1 as men and women from time's beginnings arose in an army1 the number whereof is unthinkable4 ,and oh6 abomination of desolation1 the ,white ,horse1 not ,kalki the tenth incarnation of ,vishnu1 but the animal foretold in their ,apocalypse1 came through the lightnings1 and in the whirlwinds of flame and thunder ,i saw the shining face of ,him1 the ,son of ,man6 ,where our ,buddha8 ,alas6 the last ,pope spake truth4 ,i1 ,mo the ,bonze1 tell you this ere it be too late to repent your sins and forswear your false gods4 ,the ,galilean is our master4444 ,farceur6 ,do you know what ,i would do with that accursed fan8 ,i'd destroy it1 sell it1 get rid of it somehow4 ,or else-- ,effinghame scrutinized the doctor1 whose eyes were closed--or else ,i would return to the pious practices of my old religion4 ,no smile crossed the face of his friend as he firmly held the fighting fan1 the iron and mystical fan of the ,samurai4 ,,xvii ,,the ,,woman ,,who ,,loved ,,chopin ,i ,when ,marco ,davos left ,ischl on the midday train1 that picturesque1 huddled ,austrian watering-place was stuffy4 ,he was surprised then most pleasantly by the coolness of ,aussee1 further down the line in the direction of ,vienna4 ,ischl is not a bad place1 but it lies1 as the natives say1 smothered in a kettle4 ,he rode over from the station to the stadt park1 where the band was playing4 ,there he dismounted1 for he was going further--,aussee is not very interesting1 but it principally serves as a good starting-point for trips to many of the charming lakes with which ,styria is dotted4 ,after asking his way1 ,davos passed the swimming baths1 and keeping on the left bank of a tiny stream1 he presently found himself walking through an earthly paradise4 ,since his advent in ,ischl1 where he drank the waters and endeavoured to quiet his overtaxed nerves1 he had made up his mind to visit ,alt-,aussee2 several ,viennese friends had assured him that this hamlet1 beneath a terrific precipice and on the borders of a fairy-like lake1 would be well worth the while4 ,it was a relief to breathe the thinner mountain air1 and the young artist inhaled it with satisfaction1 his big hat in hand1 his long curly black hair flowing in the gentle breeze4 ,he found himself in tunnels of verdure1 the sunlight shut off by the heavy leafage2 then the path debouched into the open and1 skirting closely the rocky wall1 it widened into an island of green where a shady pagoda invited4 ,he sat down for a few minutes and congratulated himself that he had escaped the intimate discomforts of the omnibus he discerned on the opposite bank1 packed with stout people4 ,this was the third week of his vacation1 one enforced by a nerve specialist in the ,austrian capital1 and for the first time ,davos felt almost cheerful4 ,perhaps the absolute hush of the country and the purity of the atmosphere1 with its suggestion of recent rain1--the skies weep at least once a day in the ,salzkammergut region1--proved a welcome foil to fashionable ,ischl1 with its crowds1 its stiffness1 its court ceremonial--for the emperor enjoys his villegiatura there4 ,and ,davos was sick and irritable after a prolonged musical season4 ,he had studied the pianoforte with ,rosenthal1 and his success1 from his dbut1 had been so unequivocal that he played too much in public4 ,there was a fiery particle in his interpretations of ,chopin1 ,schumann1 and ,liszt that proclaimed the temperament1 if not the actual possession1 of genius4 ,still in his early manhood--he was only twenty--the maturity of his musical intelligence and the poetry of his style created havoc in impressionable hearts4 ,with his mixed blood1 ,hungarian and ,italian1 ,marco ,davos' performance of romantic composers was irresistible2 in it there was something of ,pachmann's wayward grace and ,paderewski's plangency1 but with an added infusion of gypsy wildness which evoked for old concert-goers memories of ,liszt the brilliant rhapsodist4 ,but he soon overpaid the score presented by the goddess ,fortune--his nerves were sadly jangled4 ,a horror of the human face obsessed his waking and sleeping hours2 he dreamed of colossal countenances with threatening eyes1 a vast composite of the audiences he nightly faced4 ,as his popularity increased the waning of his self-respect told him that he must go into retreat1 anywhere out of the musical world--else would his art suffer4 ,it did suffer4 ,the nervous diffidence1 called stage-fright1 which had never assailed his supreme self-balance1 intruded its unwelcome presence4 ,marco1 several months after he had discovered all these mischievous symptoms1 the maladies of artistic adolescence1 was not assured when the critics hinted of them--the public would surely follow suit in a few weeks4 ,then came the visit to the learned ,viennese doctor and the trip to ,ischl4 ,a few more months of this appalling absorption in his own personality1 this morbid marriage of man to his own image1 and he suspected that his brain would be irretrievably injured4 ,he was a curious student of matters psychologic as well as musical4 ,a friendly laboratory had inducted him into many biologic mysteries4 ,particularly fascinating to him was the tactile sense1 that sense of touch wherewith man acquaints himself with this earth-clot swimming in space4 ,davos contemplated the tips of his fingers as he sat in the grateful cool1 his ten voices as he named them4 ,with them he sang1 thundered1 and thought upon the keyboard of his grand piano-forte4 ,a miracle1 indeed1 these slender cushions of fat1 ramified by a network of nerves1 sinews1 and bones as exquisite in their mechanism as the motion of the planets4 ,if hearing is a miracle1 so is touch2 the ear is not a resonator1 as has been so long maintained1 but an apparatus which records variations of pressure4 ,this makes it subservient to the laws of sensation2 touch and hearing are akin4 ,it aroused the pride of ,davos after he had read the revolutionary theories of ,pierre ,bounier regarding the touch4 ,so subtle could the art of touch be cultivated1 the pianist believed1 that the blind could feel colour on the canvas of the painter4 ,he spent weeks experimenting with a sensitive manometer1 gauging all the scale of dynamics4 ,no doubt these fumblings on the edge of a new science temporarily hurt his play4 ,with a dangerous joy he pressed the keys of his instrument1 endeavouring to achieve more delicate shadings4 ,he quarrelled with the piano manufacturers for their obstinate adherence to the old-fashioned clumsy action2 everything had been improved but the keyboard--that alone was as coldly unresponsive and inelastic as a half-century ago4 ,he had fugitive dreams of wires that would vibrate like a violin4 ,the sounding-board of a pianoforte is too far from the pianist1 while the violinist presses his strings as one kisses the beloved4 ,little wonder it is the musical monarch4 ,a new pianoforte1 with passionately coloured overtones1 that could sob like a violoncello1 sing like a violin1 and resound with the brazen clangours of the orchestra--,liszt had conceived this synthesis1 had by the sheer force of his audacious genius compelled from his instrument ravishing tones that were never heard before or--alas6--since4 ,even the antique harpsichord had its compensations2 not so powerful in its tonal capacity1 it nevertheless gave forth a pleading1 human quality like the still small angelic voice4 ,davos pondered these problems1 pondered ,chopin's celestial touch and the weaving magic of his many-hued poems2 ,chopin--,keats1 ,shelley1 and ,heine battling within the walls of a frail tender soul4 ,the sound of footsteps and voices aroused him4 ,he shivered with disgust4 ,more people6 ,two men1 well advanced in life1 followed by two women1 barely attracted his notice1 until he saw that the little creature who waddled at the rear of the party was a ,japanese in ,european clothes4 ,notwithstanding her western garb1 she resembled a print of ,utamaro4 ,beside her walked a tall1 grave girl1 with dark hair and gray eyes1 attired in the quaint garb of some early nineteenth-century epoch--#ahdj or thereabouts4 ,as old-fashioned as she looked1 a delicate girlish beauty was hers1 and when she indifferently gazed at ,davos1 straightway he heard humming in his head the glance motive from ,tristan and ,isolde4 ,they passed on1 but not leaving him as he was before2 a voice whispered in the secret recesses of his being3 ,you love6 ,follow6 ,seek her6 ,and under the sudden impulsion of this passion he arose and made a few steps toward the curve of the path around which the girl and her companions had disappeared4 ,the absurdity of this hasty translation into action of his desire halted him4 ,yes1 his nerves must be in a bad way if a casual encounter with a pretty woman--but was she pretty8 ,he did not return to his seat4 ,he continued his stroll leisurely4 ,pretty6 ,not exactly pretty--distinguished6 ,noble6 ,lovely6 ,beautiful6 ,he smiled4 ,here he was playing the praises of the unknown in double octaves4 ,he did not overtake her4 ,she had vanished on the other side of the bridge1 and in a few minutes he found himself entering ,alt-,aussee4 ,it wore a bright appearance1 with its various-coloured villas on the lake shores1 and its church and inn for a core4 ,the garden of this hotel he found to be larger than he had imagined2 it stretched along the bank and only stopped as if stone and mortar had been too lazy to go farther4 ,again he hesitated4 ,the garden1 the restauration--full of people3 women knitting1 children bawling1 men reading2 and all sipping coffee to a background of gossip4 ,he remembered that it was the sacred hour of ,kaffeeklatsch1 and he would have escaped by a flight of steps that led down to the beach1 but he was hailed4 ,a company of a half-dozen sat at a large table under the trees1 and the host was an orchestral conductor well known to ,davos4 ,there was no alternative4 ,he took a chair4 ,he was introduced as the celebrated pianoforte-virtuoso to men and women he had never seen before1 and hoped--so rancorous was his mood--never to see again4 ,a red-headed girl from ,brooklyn1 who confessed that she thought ,maeterlinck the name of some new ,parisian wickedness1 further bothered him with questions about piano teachers4 ,no1 he didn't give lessons6 ,he never would6 ,she dropped out of the conversation4 ,finally by an effort he swore that his head was splitting1 that he must return to ,ischl4 ,he broke away4 ,when he discovered that the crowd was also bound for the same place1 he abruptly disappeared4 ,it took him just two hours to traverse the irregular curves of the lake on the ,franz ,carl ,promenade1 and he ate his dinner in peace at the inn upon a balcony that projected over the icy waters4 ,davos decided1 as he smoked a mild cigarette1 that he would remain at ,alt-,aussee for the night4 ,the peace of the landscape purified his soul of its irritability1 though he wished that the ,dachstein would not dominate so persistently the sky-line--it was difficult to avoid the view of this solitary and egotistic peak1 the highest in ,styria4 ,he was assigned a comfortable chamber1 but the night was too fine for bed4 ,he did not feel sleepy1 and he went along the road he had come by2 the church was an opaque mass1 the spire alone showing in the violet twilight1 like some supernatural spar on a ship far out at sea4 ,he attempted to conjure to his tired brain the features1 the expression1 of the girl4 ,they would not reappear2 his memory was traitorous4 ,the murmur of faint music1 piano music1 made his ears wince--how he hated music6 ,but afar as were these tonal silhouettes1 traced against the evening air1 his practised hearing told him that they were made by an artist4 ,he languidly followed the clue1 and soon he was at the gate of a villa1 almost buried in the bosk1 and listening with all his critical attention to a thrilling performance--yes1 thrilling was the word--of ,chopin's music4 ,what6 ,the last movement of the ,b flat minor sonata1 the funeral march sonata1 but no more like the interpretation he had heard from others--from himself--than--than4444 ,but1 good heavens6 ,who was playing6 ,the unison passages that mount and recede were iridescent columns of mist painted by the moonlight and swaying rhythmically in the breeze4 ,here was something rare4 ,no longer conscious of the technical side of the playing1 so spiritualized was it1 so crystalline the touch1 ,davos forgot his manners and slipped through the gateway1 through the dark garden1 toward an open window in which burned a solitary candle4 ,the mystery of this window and the quicksilver dartings of the music--gods1 what a touch1 what gossamer delicacy6--set his heart throbbing4 ,he forgot his sick nerves4 ,when the trumpet blows1 the war-horse lusts for action--and this was not a trumpet1 but a horn of elf-land4 ,he moved as closely as he dared to the window1 and the music ceased--naturally enough1 the movement had concluded4 ,his ears burned with the silence4 ,she came to the window4 ,arrested by the vision--the casement framed her in a delicious manner--he did not stir4 ,she could not help seeing this intruder1 the light struck him full in the face4 ,she spoke3-- ,dear ,mr4 ,davos1 won't you come into the house8 ,my father and my uncle will be most happy to receive you4 99 99 99 99 99 ,she knew him6 ,stunned by his overstrung emotions1 he could only bow his head4 ,,ii ,he received the welcome of a king4 ,the two men he had seen earlier in the day advanced ceremoniously and informed him that the honour of his presence was something they had never hoped for2 that--as news flies swiftly in villages--they had heard he was at ,alt-,aussee2 they had recognized the great ,marco ,davos on the road4 ,these statements were delivered with exaggerated courtesy1 though possibly sincere4 ,the elder of the pair was white-whiskered1 very tall and spare1 his expression a sadly vague one4 ,it was her father4 ,the other an antique person1 a roly-poly fellow who chuckled and quavered1 was her uncle4 ,davos sat in a drawing-room containing a grand pianoforte1 a few chairs1 and couches4 ,the floor was stained1 and when a cluster of lights was brought by the uncle1 he noticed that only ,chopin portraits hung on the walls4 ,he apologized for his intrusion--the music had lured him from the highroad4 ,we are very musical1 said the father4 ,i should say so1 reiterated his brother-in-law4 ,musical6 echoed ,davos4 ,do you call it by such an everyday phrase8 ,i heard the playing of a marvellous poet a moment ago4 ,the two men looked shyly at each other4 ,she entered4 ,he was formally presented4 ,monsieur ,davos1 this is ,constantia ,grabowska1 my daughter4 ,my name is ,joseph ,grabowski2 my late wife's brother1 ,monsieur ,pelletier4 ,davos was puzzled by the name1 ,constantia ,grabowska6 ,she sat before him1 dressed in black silk with crinoline2 two dainty curls hung over her ears2 her profile1 her colouring1 were slightly ,oriental1 and in her nebulous gray eyes with their greenish light there was eternal youth4 ,constantia6 ,polish4 ,and how she played ,chopin--ah6 it came to him before he had finished his apologies4 ,you are named after ,chopin's first love1 he ejaculated4 ,pardon the liberty4 ,she answered him in her grave1 measured contralto4 ,constantia ,gladowska was my grandmother4 ,the playing1 the portraits1 were now explained4 ,a lover of the ,polish composer1 ,davos knew every incident of his biography4 ,i am the son of that ,joseph ,grabowski1 the ,warsaw merchant who married the soprano singer1 ,constantia ,gladowska1 in #ahcb1 said the father1 smilingly4 ,my father became blind4 ,chopin's ,ideal6 exclaimed ,marco4 ,he was under the spell of the girl's beauty and music4 ,he almost stared at her1 for the knowledge that she was a great artiste1 perhaps greater than himself1 rather dampened his passion4 ,she was adorable as she returned without coquetry his ardent gaze2 but she was--he had to admit it--a rival4 ,this composite feeling he inwardly wrestled with as the conversation placidly proceeded4 ,they only spoke of ,poland1 of ,chopin4 ,once the name of ,emilia ,plater1 the ,polish ,joan of ,arc1 was mentioned--she1 too1 was a distant connection4 ,the young pianist hinted that more music would be agreeable1 but there was no response4 ,he was quite alone with ,constantia1 and they talked of ,poland's tone-poet4 ,she knew much more of ,chopin than he did1 and she recited ,mickewicz's patriotic poems with incomparable verve4 ,do you believe in heredity8 he cried1 as the father entered with the tea4 ,do you believe that your love of ,chopin is inherited8 ,chopin composed that wonderful slow movement of the ,f minor concerto because of his love for your grandmother4 ,how ,i wish ,i could have seen her1 heard her4 ,the girl1 without answering him1 detached from her neck a large brooch and chain4 ,davos took it and amazedly compared the portrait with the living woman4 ,you are ,constantia ,gladowska4 ,she smiled4 ,her love of ,chopin--she must have loved her youthful adorer--has been transmitted to you4 ,oh1 please play me that movement again1 the one ,rubinstein called 'the night wind sweeping over the churchyard graves4' ,constantia blushed so deeply that he knew he had offended her4 ,she had for him something of the pathos of old dance music--its stately sweetness1 its measured rhythms4 ,after drinking a cup of tea he drifted to the instrument--flies do not hanker after honey as strongly as do pianists in the presence of an open keyboard4 ,a tactful silence ensued4 ,he began playing1 and1 as if exasperated at the challenge implied by her refusal1 he played in his old form4 ,then he took the theme of ,chopin's ,e flat minor ,scherzo1 and he juggled with it1 spun it into fine fibres of tone1 dashed it down yawning and serried harmonic abysses4 ,he was magnificent as he put forth all the varied resources of his art4 ,constantia1 her cheeks ablaze1 her lips parted1 interposed a fan between her eyes and the light4 ,there was something dangerous and passionate in her regard4 ,in all the fury of his play he knew that he had touched her4 ,once1 during a pause1 he heard her sigh4 ,as he finished in a thunderous crash he saw in the doorway the figure of the ,japanese maid--an ugly1 gnarled idol with slitted eyes4 ,she withdrew when he arose to receive the unaffected homage of his hosts4 ,he was curious4 ,monsieur ,pelletier1 who looked like a ,brazilian parrot in beak and hue1 cackled3-- ,that's ,cilli1 our ,japanese4 ,she was born in ,germany1 and is my niece's governess4 ,quite musical1 too1 ,i should say so4 ,just look at my two ,maltese cats6 ,i call them ,tristan and ,isolde because they make noises in the night4 ,don't you loathe ,wagner8 ,it was time to go4 ,enamoured1 ,davos took his leave1 promising to call the next forenoon before he went back to ,ischl4 ,he held her fingers for a brief moment and longed to examine their tips1--the artist still struggled to subdue the man1--but the pressure he received was so unmistakable that he hurried away1 fearing to betray his emotion4 ,he hovered in the vicinity of the house1 longing for more music4 ,he was disappointed4 ,for a full hour he wandered through the dusty lanes in the faded light of an old moon4 ,when he reached his chamber1 it was long past one o'clock2 undaunted1 his romantic fervour forced him to the window1 and he watched the shining lake4 ,he fell asleep thinking of ,constantia4 ,but he dreamed of ,cilli1 the ,japanese maid with the hideous eyes4 ,,iii ,not only that morning1 but every morning for two weeks1 did ,marco ,davos visit ,alt-,aussee4 ,he came down from ,ischl on the earliest train1 and some nights he stopped at the hotel near his new friends4 ,after a few visits he saw little of the father and uncle1 and he was not sorry--they were old bores with their archaic anecdotes of dead pianists4 ,two maniacs on the subject of music1 ,davos wished them to the devil after he had known them twenty-four hours4 ,his passion had reached the acute key4 ,he could not eat or drink in normal fashion1 and no sooner had he left the girl than the sky became sombre1 his pulse weakened1 and he longed to return to her side to tell her something he had forgotten4 ,he did this several times1 and hesitated in his speech1 reddened1 and left her1 stumbling over the grass like a lame man4 ,never such a crazy wooer1 never a calmer maiden4 ,she looked unutterable sentiment1 but spoke it not4 ,when he teased her about her music1 she became a statue4 ,she was too timid to play before artists2 her only master had been her father4 ,once more he had heard the piano as he returned unexpectedly1 and almost caught her2 he saw her at the instrument1 but some instinct must have warned her that she was being spied upon4 ,she stopped in the middle of a phrase from a ,mendelssohn song1 and even to his prejudiced ears her touch had seemed commonplace4 ,yet he loved her all the more despite her flat refusal to play4 ,the temptation to his excited artistic temperament was removed4 ,he played1 often1 gloriously4 ,his nerves were steel4 ,this was a cure his doctor had not foreseen4 ,what did it matter1 anyhow8--he was near ,constantia daily1 and the sunshine was royal4 ,only--why did her relatives absent themselves so obstinately6 ,she told him1 with her secret smile1 that she had scolded them for talking so much2 but when he played they were never far away1 she assured him4 ,nor was the ,japanese woman1 ,cilli--what a name6 ,a nickname given by ,constantia in her babyhood4 ,cilli was a good soul4 ,he hoped so--her goodness was not apparent4 ,she had a sneering expression as he played4 ,he never looked up from the keyboard that he did not encounter her ironical gaze4 ,she was undoubtedly interested4 ,her intensity of pose proved it2 but there was no sympathy in her eyes4 ,and she had a habit of suddenly appearing in door or window1 and always behind her mistress4 ,she ended by seriously annoying him1 though he did not complain4 ,it was too trivial4 ,one afternoon he unfolded his novel views on touch4 ,if the action of the modern pianoforte could be made as sensitive in its response as the fingerboard of a fiddle4444 ,constantia listened with her habitual gravity1 but he knew that she was bored4 ,then he shifted to the subject of fingers4 ,he begged to be allowed the privilege of examining hers4 ,at first she held back1 burying her hand in the old ,mechlin lace flounce of her sleeves4 ,he coaxed4 ,he did not attempt to conceal his chagrin when he finally saw her fingers4 ,they were pudgy1 good-humoured1 fit to lift a knife and fork1 or to mend linen4 ,they did not match her cameo-like face1 and above all they did not reveal the musical soul he knew her to possess4 ,for the first time since he met her she gave evidence of ill humour4 ,she sharply withdrew her hand from his1 and as she did so a barbaric croon was heard1 a sort of triumphant wailing1 and ,constantia1 without making an excuse1 hurriedly left the room4 ,the singing stopped4 ,it's that devil of a ,japanese woman1 he muttered testily4 ,he waited for nearly an hour1 and in a vile temper took up his hat and stick and went away4 ,decidedly this was his unlucky day1 he grumbled1 as he reached the water4 ,he saw ,grabowski and ,pelletier1 arm in arm1 trudging toward the villa1 but contrived to evade them4 ,in ten minutes he found himself spying on the house he had quitted4 ,he skirted a little private way back of the villa1 and to his amazement father1 uncle1 and ,constantia came out and hailed the omnibus which travelled hourly to ,aussee4 ,davos was furious4 ,he did not risk following them1 for he realized he had been treated shabbily4 ,his wrath softened as he reflected2 perhaps ,constantia1 agitated by his rudeness1--had he been rude8--persuaded her family to follow him to ,ischl4 ,the sky cleared4 ,that was the solution--,marco ,davos straightened himself--his pride was no longer up in arms4 ,poor child--she was so easily wounded6 ,how he loved her6 ,his body trembled4 ,he could not believe he was awake4 ,incredible music was issuing from behind the closed blinds of the villa4 ,music6 ,and the music he had overheard that first night4 ,but ,constantia had just gone away2 he had seen her4 ,there must be some mistake1 some joke4 ,no1 no1 by another path she had managed to get back to the house4 ,ay6 but what playing4 ,again came that purling rush of notes1 those unison passages1 as if one gigantic hand grasped them--so perfect was the tonal accord4 ,he did not hesitate4 ,at a bound he was in the corridor and pushed open the door of the drawing-room4444 ,at first the twilighted room blinded him4 ,then to his disgust and terror he saw the apelike features of the squat ,japanese governess4 ,she sat at the piano1 her bilious skin flushed by the exertion of playing4 ,you--you6 he barely managed to stammer4 ,she did not reply1 but preserved the immobility of a carved idol4 ,you are a wonderful artiste1 he blurted1 going to her4 ,she stolidly answered3-- ,the ,japanese have the finest sense of touch in the world4 ,i was once a pupil of ,karl ,tausig4 ,involuntarily he bowed his head to the revered name of the one man he had longed to hear4 ,then his feelings almost strangled him2 his master passion asserted itself4 ,your fingers1 your fingers--let me see them1 he hoarsely demanded4 ,with a malicious grin she extended her hands--he groaned enviously4 ,yes1 they were miracles of sculpture1 miracles of colour and delicacy1 the slender tips well-nigh prehensile in their cunning power4 ,and the fingers of ,constantia1 of his love1 of the woman who loved ,chopin--that ,chopin whose first passion was for her grandmother1 the opera singer ,constantia ,gladowska6 ,the knowledge of her cruel deception crept into his consciousness4 ,he was chilled for several seconds4 ,grief at his lost love1 implacable anger at her trickery1 crowded into his unhappy brain4 ,but he only bowed to ,cilli1 and summoning all his will he politely said3-- ,it is quite true that when the ,japanese choose to play the piano1 we ,europeans must shut up shop4 ,he hurried out to the road and walked desperately4444 ,the next morning1 as he nervously paced the platform of the ,ischl railway station1 he encountered his old friend ,alfred ,brnfeld1 the jovial ,viennese pianist4 ,hullo6 ,hullo6 ,not going back to ,vienna8 ,yes--,i'm tired of the country4 ,but1 man1 you are pale and tired4 ,have you been studying up here after your doctor bade you rest8 ,the concern in ,brnfeld's voice touched ,davos4 ,he shook his head1 then bethought himself of something4 ,alfred1 you are acquainted with everybody in ,europe4 ,how is it you never told me about that strange ,grabowski crowd--you know1 the granddaughter of ,chopin's first love8 ,brnfeld looked at him with instant curiosity4 ,you also8 he said4 ,the young man blushed4 ,after that he could never forgive6 ,the other continued3-- ,granddaughter1 fiddlesticks6 ,they are not ,poles1 those ,grabowskis1 but impostors4 ,their real name is--is-- ,davos started4 ,what1 you have met them8 ,yes1 the stupid father1 the odious uncle1 the fair ,constantia--what a meek saint6--and that diabolical ,japanese1 who plays the piano like a house on fire4 ,tears came to the eyes of ,marco ,davos4 ,did they--,i mean1 did she take you in1 too8 ,here1 at ,ischl1 last summer1 was the grim reply4 ,,xviii ,,the ,,tune ,,of ,,time ,ferval returned to ,rouen after a fatiguing trip down the ,seine as far as ,croisset1 the old home of ,gustave ,flaubert4 ,here he viewed1 not without a dismal sense of fame and its futility1 the little garden-house in which the masterpieces of the great ,frenchman had been conceived in joy and executed in sorrow4 ,he met the faithful ,colange1 one-time attendant of ,flaubert1 and from him learned exacerbating details of the novelist's lonesome years2 so he was in a mood of irritation as he went ashore near the ,boeldieu ,bridge and slowly paced toward his hotel4 ,he loved this ,norman ,rouen1 loved the battered splendour of ,ntre-,dame ,cathedral1 loved the church of ,saint-,ouen--that miracle of the ,gothic1 with its upspringing turrets1 its portal as perfect as a ,bach fugue4 ,and in the ,solferino ,garden he paid his tribute of flowers at the monuments of ,maupassant and ,flaubert4 ,ferval was modern in his tastes2 he believed nothing in art was worth the while which did not date from the nineteenth century4 ,deplorably bored1 he passed his hotel on the ,quai and turned into the ,rue ,jeanne d',arc1 which led by the faade of the ,palais de ,justice4 ,he had studied it carefully1 and it did not1 this dull afternoon in ,september1 hold his interest long2 he sauntered on1 not feeling strong enough to light a cigarette4 ,decidedly1 ,rouen was become tiresome4 ,he would go back to ,paris by the evening train--or to ,dieppe1 thence to ,london1 on the morning boat4 ,presently he found himself nearing the ,porte de la ,grosse ,horloge4 ,through its opening poured vivacious working girls and men in blouse and cap1 smoking1 chattering1 gesticulating4 ,it was all very animated1 and the wanderer tried to enjoy the picture4 ,then over against the crenellated wall1 under the tablet bearing the quaint inscription picked out in choice ,latin1 ,ferval saw a tall girl4 ,her bare head would not have marked her in a crowd where motley prevailed2 it was her pose that attracted him1--above all1 her medival face1 with its long1 drooping nose which recalled some graven image of ,jean ,goujon4 ,her skin was tanned2 her hair1 flame-coloured1 was confined by a classic fillet2 her eyes1 ,oriental in fulness1 were light blue--,ferval had crossed to the apparition and noted these things4 ,she did not return his stare1 but continued to gaze at the archway as if expecting some one4 ,young1 robust1 her very attitude suggested absolute health2 yet her expression was so despairing1 her eyes so charged with misery1 that involuntarily he felt in his pocket for money4 ,and then he saw that in her hand she held a tambourine4 ,she wore a faded uniform of the ,salvation ,army4 ,suddenly an extraordinary noise was heard2 music1 but of such a peculiar and excruciating quality that the young man forgot his neighbour and wondered what new pain was in store for his already taut nerves4 ,the shops emptied1 children stopped their games1 and the ,quarter suspended its affairs to welcome the music4 ,ferval heard rapturous and mocking remarks4 ,baki1 ,baki1 the human orchestra6 cried one gossip to another4 ,and the reverberating music swelled1 multifarious and amazing as if a military band from piccolo to drum were about to descend the highway4 ,a clatter and bang1 a sweet droning and shrill scraping1 and then an old man proudly limped through the gateway of the ,great ,clock4 ,this was the conjurer1 this white-haired fellow1 who1 with fife1 cymbals1 bells1 concertinas1--he wore two strapped under either arm1--at times fiddler1 made epileptic music as he quivered and danced1 wriggled1 and shook his venerable skull4 ,the big drum was fastened to his back1 upon its top were placed cymbals4 ,on his head he wore a pavilion hung with bells that pealed when he twisted or nodded his long1 yellow neck4 ,he carried a weather-worn fiddle with a string or two missing1 while a pipe that might have been a clarinet years before1 now emitted but cackling tones from his thin lips1 through which shone a few fanglike teeth4 ,by some incomprehensible cordination of muscular movements he contrived to make sound simultaneously his curious armoury of instruments1 and the whistling1 screeching1 scratching1 drumming1 wheezing1 and tinkling of metal were appalling4 ,but it was rhythmic1 and at intervals the edge of a tune could be discerned1 cutting sharply through the dense cloud of vibrations1 like the prow of a boat cleaving the fog4 ,baki1 his face red and swollen by his exertions1 moved to the spot where waited the girl4 ,ai1 ,debora6 cried a boy1 here's the old man4 ,pass the plate1 pass the plate6 ,to his amazement1 though he could give no reason for the feeling1 ,ferval saw the girl go from group to group1 her tambourine outstretched1 begging for coppers4 ,once she struck an insulting youth across the face1 but when she reached ,ferval and met his inquiring look1 she dropped her eyes and did not ask for alms4 ,a red-headed ,sibyl1 he thought discontentedly1 a street beggar1 the daughter of an old ruffian4 ,and as he walked away rapidly he remembered her glance1 in which there lurked some touch of antique pride and wrath4 ,,ii ,rouen lay below him1 a violet haze obscuring all but the pinnacles of its churches4 ,the sinking sun had no longer power to pierce this misty gulf1 at the bottom of which hummed the busy city2 but ,ferval saw through rents in the twirling1 heat-laden atmosphere the dim shapes of bridges mirrored by the water beneath him2 and once the two islands apparently swept toward him1 a blur of green2 while at the end of the valley1 framed by hills1 he seemed to discern the odd-looking ,transbordeur spanning the ,seine4 ,for twenty-four hours he had not ceased thinking of the girl with the tambourine1 of her savage1 sullen grace1 her magnificent poise and strange glance4 ,he had learned at his hotel that she was called ,debora la folle1 and that she was the daughter of the still crazier ,baki4 ,was she some sort of a gypsy1 or a ,continental version of ,salvation ,army lass8 ,no one knew4 ,each year1 at the beginning of autumn1 the pair wandered into ,rouen1 remained a few weeks1 and disappeared4 ,where8 ,paris1 perhaps1 or ,italy or--l bas6 ,the shoulder-shrugging proved that ,baki and his daughter were not highly regarded by reputable citizens of ,rouen1 though the street people followed their music and singing as long as it lasted4 ,singing8 queried ,ferval2 does the woman sing8 ,he became more interested4 ,his visits to the country where ,pissarro painted and ,flaubert wrote revealed other possibilities besides those purely artistic ones in which this amateur of fine shades and sensations delighted4 ,he did not deny1 on the esplanade where behind him stood ,bonsecours and the monument of ,jeanne d',arc1 that souvenirs of the girl had kept his eyelids from closing during the major portion of the night4 ,to cool his brain after the midday breakfast he had climbed the white1 dusty1 and winding road leading to the ,monumental ,cemetery wherein1 true ,flaubertian1 he had remained some moments uncovered at the tomb of the master4 ,now he rested1 and the shade of the trees mellowed the slow dusk of a ,rouen evening4 ,a deep contralto voice boomed in his ears4 ,as he had seen but a scant half-dozen persons during the afternoon on the heights1 ,ferval was startled from his dreams4 ,he turned4 ,sitting on a bank of green was the girl4 ,her hands were clasped and she spoke carelessly to her father1 who1 unharnessed from his orchestra1 appeared another man4 ,rapidly ,ferval observed his striking front1 his massive head with the long1 white curls1 the head of an ,elijah disillusioned of his mission4 ,he1 too1 was sitting1 but upright1 and his arm was raised with a threatening gesture as if in his desolating anger he were about to pronounce a malediction upon the vanishing twilighted town4 ,ferval moved immediately1 as he did not care to be caught spying upon his queer neighbours4 ,he was halted by their speech4 ,it was ,english4 ,his surprise was so unaffected that he turned back and went up to the two and bade them good-day4 ,at once he saw that the girl recognized him2 the father dropped his air of grandeur and put on the beggar's mask4 ,what an actor6 thought ,ferval1 at the transformation4 ,would the good gentleman please--8 ,the girl plucked at her father's arm imploringly4 ,with her grave1 cold expression she answered the other's salutation and fixed him with her wonderful eyes so inquiringly that ,ferval began a hasty explanation4 ,english was rarely spoken here 444 and then the pleasure of the music6 ,the old man burst into scornful laughter4 ,the music6 he exclaimed4 ,the music6 echoed his daughter4 ,ferval wished himself down in ,rouen4 ,but he held his position4 ,yes1 he continued1 your music4 ,it interested me4 ,and now ,i find you speaking my own tongue4 ,i must confess that ,i am curious1 that my curiosity has warrant4 ,thus was he talking to beggars as if they were his social equals4 ,unconsciously the tone he adopted had been forced upon him by the bearing of his companions1 above all by their accent1 that of cultivated folk4 ,who and what were they8 ,the musician no longer smiled4 ,you are a music-lover1 monsieur8 he asked in a marked ,french patois4 ,i love music1 and ,i am extremely engaged by your remarkable combination of instruments1 answered ,ferval4 ,baki regarded his wretched orchestra on the grass1 then spoke to his daughter4 ,debora1 he said in ,english1 and his listener wondered if it were ,celtic or ,scotch in its unusual intonations1 ,debora1 you must sing something for the gentleman4 ,he loves our art1--there was indescribable pathos in this phrase1--so sing something from ,purcell1 ,brahms1 or ,richard ,strauss4 ,these words were like the sting of hail2 they seemed to drop from the sky1 so out of key were they with the speaker's ragged clothes and the outlandish garb of his daughter4 ,purcell6 ,brahms6 ,strauss6 ,what could these three composers mean to such outcasts8 ,believing that he was the victim of a mystification1 ,ferval waited1 his pulses beating as if he had been running too hard4 ,the girl slowly moved her glorious eyes in his direction2 light as they were in hue1 their heavy1 dark lashes gave them a fantastic expression--bright flame seen through the shadow of smoke4 ,he felt his own dilating as she opened her throat and poured out a broad1 sonorous stream of sound that resolved into ,von ewiger ,liebe by ,brahms4 ,he had always loved deep-voiced women4 ,had he not read in the ,talmud that ,lilith1 ,adam's first wife1 was low of voice8 ,and this beggar-maid8 ,maybe a masquerading singer with a crazy father6 ,what else could mean such art wasted on the roads1 thrown in the faces of a rabble6 ,ferval kindled with emotion4 ,here was romance4 ,brahms and his dark song under the bowl of the troubled blue sky strongly affected him4 ,he took the lean1 brown hand of the singer and kissed it fervently4 ,she drew back nervously1 but her father struck her on the shoulder chidingly4 ,a trifle too dreary1 he rumbled in his heavy bass4 ,now1 ,purcell for the gentleman1 and may he open his heart and his purse for the poor4 ,father1 she cried warningly1 we are not beggars1 now6 ,she turned supplicatingly to the young man and made a gesture of dismissal4 ,he gently shook his head and pretended that he was about to leave1 though he felt that his feet were rooted in the earth1 his power of willing gone4 ,ay1 ay1 my girl6 continued the musician1 you can sing as well as the best of them1 only you love your sinful old father so much that you have laid aside your ambitions1 to follow him in his pilgrimage of expiation about this wicked globe4 ,ah1 sir1 if you but knew--,i will speak1 ,debora1 for he is a gentleman and a lover of music6 ,if you but knew our history1 you would not be surprised at us4 ,have ye ever been in ,wales8 ,ferval stumbled in his answer4 ,it was overlooked2 the old man continued3 ,if ye have1 ye must have heard of the sin-eaters4 ,i am one of them1 ,i am an eater of sin-- ,again the girl exclaimed1 this time piteously1 ,oh1 father1 remember your vow6 ,poor lass6 ,yes1 ,i was a doer of evil1 and ,i became an eater of sin4 ,some day my sins will be forgiven--this is my penance4 ,he pointed to his instruments4 ,ferval kept silence4 ,he feared a word would blow away the cobweb foundations of the narrative4 ,the girl had turned and was watching a young tilted moon which with a single star made silvery dents low in the western horizon4 ,i am an eater of sin4 ,we still have a few such in ,wales4 ,they put a piece of bread and cheese on the breast of a dead man and when the sin-eater eats it1 the sins of the dead are passed into the bread and cheese and the soul of the dead is shrived of them4 ,ay1 ay1 but it's a grave duty1 my friend1 to take upon your own soul the crime of another4 ,if you are free from sin yourself1 you may walk through life a brave creature2 but 444 ,i took his sins1 sins1 the sins of the wickedest composer of our century1 ,god rest his soul4 ,and for the wicked things he put into his symphonies ,i must march through life playing on this terrible collection of instruments the ,tune of ,time-- ,his daughter faced him4 ,father1 we must go2 you are only keeping the gentleman4 ,again she signalled ,ferval1 but he disregarded her warning4 ,he would not stir4 ,the story and the man who told it1 a prophet shorn of his heaven-storming powers1 fascinated him4 ,i took his sins to myself and they were awful4 ,once every night ,i play the ,tune of ,time in which the wickedness of the dead man is spread out like dry rot in a green field4 ,this man kept his genius so long stagnant that it decayed on his hands1 and then into his pestilential music he poured his poison1 and would have made the world sick4 ,oh1 for delivery from the crushing transgressions of another6 ,his name8 ,ah1 but that is my secret6 ,i ate his sin1 and truth1 my son1 is stranger than theology6 ,listen6 ,before his daughter could check him he had hastily donned his armament of instruments and1 tramping slowly the broad1 smooth path1 began playing4 ,ferval1 much disappointed1 was about to disappear1 for he remembered the racking noises of the previous day4 ,but this music1 this ,tune of ,time6444 ,,iii ,it was like the flare of lightning which illuminates strange regions beyond the borders of the soul4 ,ferval no longer heard1 he felt2 he felt no more1 he saw4 ,the white veil was torn asunder1 and it showed him a melodious thunder-pool wherein tapering tiny bodies swam1 whose eyes were the eyes of ,debora4 ,they split and coalesced into other creatures1 and to the drummings of spheric harmonies resolved themselves scaly and monstrous4 ,never did they cease changing4 ,as the music buzzed he saw the great ladder of life1 the lowermost rungs resting in lakes of melted amber1 the top threatening the remotest rims of the universe4 ,and still the ,tune of ,time whirred on1 as facet after facet of the ,infinite wheeled toward creation4 ,numberless legions of crumpled nightmare shapes modulated into new1 familiar forms4 ,ferval saw plasmic dew become anthropoidal apes1 fiercely roaming primeval forests in search of prey4 ,the music mounted ever upward1 for the ,tune of ,time is the ,tune of ,love--love and its inseparable shadow1 hate1 fashion the firmament4 ,the solid1 circular earth shivered like a mighty harp under this lyric burden of love4 ,the very stars sported in their orbits2 and from the fulgurating ovens of the ,milky ,way there shot forth streams of audible light that touched the heart-strings of the hairy1 erect primates and set them chanting2 thus were the souls born which crowned them men4 ,this space-bridging music ranged from sun to sun1 and its supernatural symphony had no beginning and never shall end4 ,but the magician or devil who revealed this phantasmagoria of the ,cosmos--how had he wrested from the ,inane the ,tune of ,time that in a sequence of chromatic chords pictured the processes of the eternal energy8 ,was this his sin1 the true sin against the ,holy ,ghost8 ,how had he blundered upon the secret of the rhythmic engine which spun souls through the ages8 ,no man could live after this terrific peep at the ,ancient of ,days4 ,debora's eyes peered into ,ferval's1 filled with the music that enmeshes4 ,and now sounded the apocalyptic trumpets even unto the glittering edges of eternity4444 ,amid this vertiginous tempest of tones ,debora danced the ,dance of ,space4 ,she revolved in lenten movement to the lilt of the music1 her eyes staring and full of broken lights4 ,as her gaze collided with her companion's he saw a disk of many-coloured fire2 and then her languorous gestures were transformed into shivering intensities4 ,she danced like the wine-steeped ,noah2 she danced as danced ,david before the ,ark of the ,covenant4 ,and she was ,herodias pirouetting for the price of ,john's head1 and her brow was wreathed with serpents4 ,followed the convulsive curvings of the ,nautch and the opaque splendours of stately ,moorish slaves4 ,debora threw her watcher into a frenzy of fear4 ,he crouched under a sky that roofed him in with its menacing blackness2 the orbs of the girl were shot with crescent lightnings4 ,alien in his desolation1 he wondered if her solemn leaps1 as the music dashed with frantic speed upon his ear-drums1 signified the incarnation of ,devi1 dread slayer of men6 ,the primal charmers affrighted his vision3 ,lilith1 ,ourania1 ,astart1 ,ashtaroth1 ,belkis1 ,ishtar1 ,mylitta1 ,cotytto1 and many immemorial figures from before the ,flood streamed by and melted into the woven paces of ,debora--this new ,jephtha's daughter dancing to her doom as her father fingered the ,tune of ,time4 ,in the whirling patterns of her dance1 ,ferval discerned1 though dimly1 the ,veil of ,maya1 the veil of illusion called ,space1 on the thither side of which are embroidered the fugacious symbols of ,time4444 444 ,as the delirious music faltered and fainted1 he watched the tragic eyes of ,debora yellowing cat-like4 ,his senses and imagination had been hypnotized by all this fracas and by the beauty of the girl4 ,with such a mate and such formidable music1 he could conquer the earth6 ,his brain was afire with the sweetness of the odour that enveloped them1 an odour as penetrating as the music of the nocturnal ,chopin4 ,debora1 he whispered1 you must never go away from me4 ,she hung her head4 ,the old man was not to be seen2 the darkness had swallowed him4 ,ferval quietly passed his arm about the waist of the silent woman and slowly they walked in the tender night4 ,she was the first to speak3-- ,you did not hear a madman's story1 she asserted in her clear1 candid voice1 which had for him the hue of a cleft pomegranate4 ,it is the history of my father's soul4 ,it is his own sin he expiates4 ,but you1 you6 ,ferval cried unsteadily4 ,why must your life be sacrificed to gratify the bizarre egotism of such a-- ,he cut short the phrase1 fearful of wounding her4 ,he felt her body tremble and her arm contract4 ,they reached the marble staircase of the ,jeanne d',arc memorial4 ,she stopped him and burst forth3-- ,would you be willing to share his burden8 ,would you take upon your shoulders his sin8 ,he may have committed the one unpardonable sin1 for he discovered the true philosopher's stone1 that can transmute metals1 make mountains nod1 the stars to stop1 and command the throne of ,jehovah--oh1 what blasphemy has been his in his daring music6 ,if he could persuade one other soul besides mine to help him1 he might be released from his woe4 ,will you be that other8 ,she put this question as if she were proposing a commonplace human undertaking4 ,ferval in his confusion fancied that she was provoking him to a declaration4 ,to grasp his receding reason he fatuously exclaimed3-- ,is this a ,salvation ,army fantasy8 ,with that she called out1 in harsh resentment3 ,not salvation for you6 ,she then thrust him from her so violently that he tumbled backward down the steps to the very bottom1 where1 unnerved by the ferocity of the attack and his head bruised by the fall1 he felt his consciousness escape like gas from a punctured balloon4 ,when found the next morning1 he was barely covered by the old sin-eater's rags1 while near by was scattered the entire orchestra of that eloquent wizard4 ,shudderingly he realized that it had been no dream2 shudderingly he wondered if upon his soul had been shifted the unknown crime of the fanatic6 ,the witching1 enigmatic ,debora haunted his memory2 and with dismay he recalled the blistering vision evoked by the music1 through which she had glided like some tremulous ,lamia4 ,decidedly his imagination had carried him far4 ,he cursed his easy credulity1 he reviled his love of the exotic4444 ,ferval made inquiry of the authorities1 but received little comfort4 ,salvation ,army people they were not1 this father and daughter2 the tambourine1 assumed garb1 and prophet's beard had deceived him4 ,impostors6 ,but of what incredible caliber1 of what illusion-creating power6 ,for years he could not see a ,salvation ,army girl without a sense of cerebral exaltation4 ,if he could have met ,debora again1 he would have forgiven her sibylline deceptions1 her father's chicanery4 ,and how did they spin their web8 ,ferval1 student of the occult1 greedy of metaphysical problems1 at first set it down to ,indian ,yogi magic4 ,but the machinery--the hideously discordant human orchestra1 the corybantic dancing6 ,no1 he rejected the theory4 ,music is sometimes hypnotic1 but not such music2 dancing is the most alluring of the spatial arts1 and ,debora's miming was a delight to the eye2 but could it have so obscured his judgments as to paint upon the canvas of his fancy those prodigious frescoes of time and space8 ,in the iron solitude of his soul he tortured himself with these questions4 ,his stupor lasted for days--was it the abrupt fall or was it the result of his absinthe-like dreams8 ,he was haunted by an odour that assailed his brain like one tune persistently played4 ,the odour6 ,whence did it come with its sickly sweetness8 ,perhaps therein lay the secret of his hallucinating visions4 ,perhaps a drug had perverted his brain4 ,but within the week the dangerous perfume had become dissipated1 and with it vanished all hope of solving the riddle4 ,oh1 to sense once more the enchantments of its fragrance1 once more revel in the sublimated intoxication of mighty forces weaving at the loom of life6 ,by the cadences of what infernal art had he been vouchsafed a glimpse of the profiles of the gods8 ,henceforth ,ferval became a lover of shadows4 ,,xix ,,nada ,the tenderness of the growing night disquieted the dying woman4 ,aline6 she called4 ,but it was only the name that reverberated within the walls of her brain1 harrowed by fever4 ,a soft air rustled the drawn curtains of lawn2 and on the dressing table the two little lamps fluttered in syncopated sympathy4 ,one picture the room held4 ,it was after a painting by ,goya1 and depicted a sneering skeleton scrawling on his dusty tomb1 with a bony fore-finger1 the sinister word1 ,nada--nothing6 ,the perturbation of the woman increased1 though physical power seemed denied her4 ,aline1 my child6 ,this time a clucking sound issued from her throat4 ,the girl went to the bedside and gently fanned4 ,her aunt wagged her head negatively4 ,no1 no6 she stuttered4 ,aline stopped1 and kneeling1 took the sick hands in her own4 ,their eyes met and ,aline1 guided by the glance1 looked over at the picture with its sardonic motto4 ,shall ,i take it away1 ,aunt ,mary8 ,the elder woman closed her eyes as if to shut out the ghoulish mockery4 ,then ,aline saw the tabouret that stood between the windows--it was burdened with magnolias in a deep white bowl4 ,do you wish them nearer8 ,no1 no1 murmured her aunt4 ,her eyes brightened4 ,she pushed her chin forward1 and the young girl removed the flowers1 knowing that their odour had become oppressive4 ,she was not absent more than a few seconds4 ,as she returned the maid touched her arm4 ,the gentlemen are waiting below1 miss4 ,they won't leave until they see you4 ,how can ,i go now8 ,send them away1 send them away6 ,yes1 miss2 but ,i told them what you said this afternoon about the danger of ,holiest ,mother-- ,hush6 she is calling4 ,aline slipped into the room on hurried feet1 her eyes dilated1 her hair in anxious disorder4 ,but the invalid made no signal4 ,she lay with closed eyelids1 the contraction of her nostrils a faint proclamation of life4 ,again the niece took her place at the headboard1 and with folded fingers watched the whispering indications of speedy flight4 ,the maid soon beckoned her from a narrowed door4 ,aline joined her4 ,they say that if you don't go down1 they will come up4 ,who says8 was the stern query4 ,the ,second ,reader and the ,secretary4 ,i think you had better see them2 they both look worried4 ,really ,i do1 ,miss ,allie4 ,very well1 ,ellen2 but you must stay here1 and if ,holiest ,mother makes the slightest move1 touch the bell4 ,i'll not be gone five minutes4 ,without arranging her hair or dress1 ,aline opened the folding doors of the drawing-room4 ,only the centre lamp was lighted1 but she recognized the two men4 ,they were sitting together1 and arose as she entered4 ,the burly ,second ,reader wore a dismayed countenance4 ,his cheeks were flabby1 his eyes red4 ,the other was a timid little man who never had anything to say4 ,how is ,holiest ,mother8 asked the ,reader4 ,dying4 ,oh1 ,sister ,aline6 ,why such a blunt way of putting it8 ,she may be exchanging her earthly garb for a celestial one--but die6 ,we do not acknowledge death in the ,church of the ,new ,faith4 ,he paused and blandly stroked his huge left hand1 covered with red down4 ,holiest ,mother1 my aunt1 has not an hour to live1 was the cool response of the girl4 ,if you have no further question1 ,i must ask you to excuse me2 ,i am needed above4 ,she stepped to the door4 ,wait a moment1 sister6 ,not so fast4 ,the situation is serious4 ,hundreds of thousands of the faithful depend on our report of this--of this sad event4 ,we may tell them that the female pope of our great religion--he bent his big neck reverently--was wafted to her heavenly abode by the angels4 ,but there are the officers of the law1 the undertaker1 the cemetery people1 to be considered4 ,shall we acknowledge that our founder has died like any other human--in bed1 of a fever8 ,and who is to be her successor8 ,has she left a will8 ,poor ,aunt ,mary6 muttered the girl4 ,it must be a woman1 will or no will1 continued the ,second ,reader1 in the tone of a conqueror making terms with a stricken foe4 ,now ,aline1 sister1 you are the nearest of kin4 ,you are a fervent healer4 ,you are the ,woman4 ,how can you stand there heartlessly plotting such things and a dying woman in the house8 ,aline's voice was metallic with passion4 ,you care only for the money and power in our church4 ,i refuse to join with you in any such scheme4 ,aunt ,mary will die4 ,she will name her successor4 ,then it will be time to act4 ,have you forgotten her last words to the faithful8 ,she pointed to a marble tablet above the fireplace1 which bore this astounding phrase3 ,my first and forever message is one and eternal4 ,nothing more1--but the men cowered before the sublime wisdom uttered by a frail woman1 wisdom that had started the emotional machinery of two continents4 ,but1 great ,god6 ,miss ,aline1 you mustn't go off and leave us in this fix4 ,drops of water stood on the forehead of the ,second ,reader4 ,his hands dropped to his side with a gesture of despair4 ,his companion kept to the corner1 a scared being4 ,you know as well as ,i do that somebody has to take the throne seat after--after your ,aunt ,mary dies--,i mean1 after ,holiest ,mother is translated to eternity4 ,ask her1 beg her1 for some advice4 ,we can't let the great undertaking go to pieces-- ,you have little faith1 brother1 replied ,aline4 ,if that message means anything1 then the ,new ,faith will take care of itself-- ,yes1 yes1 ,i know1 was the testy interruption2 but the world is not so easily led in matters of religion4 ,the message1 as you say1 is divine2 but it may sound like meaningless twaddle to the world at large4 ,if we are to heal mankind and dispel the heresy of disease and death1 why can't ,holiest ,mother save herself8 ,mind you1 ,i am looking at this thing with the eyes of the sceptics-- ,you are an unbeliever1 a materialist1 yourself1 was the bold retort4 ,do as you please1 but you can't drag me into your money calculations4 ,the swift slam of the door left them to their fears4 ,her aunt1 sitting as upright as a candle1 was conducting an invisible orchestra when ,aline returned4 ,the frightened maid tried to hold the lean1 spasmodic arms as they traced in the air the pompous rhythm of a march that moved on silent funereal pinions through the chamber4 ,the woman stared threateningly at the picture on the wall1 the picture of the skeleton which had come from nothingness to reveal nothingness to the living4 ,the now distraught girl1 her nerves crisped by her doubts1 threw herself upon the bed1 her fears sorely knocking at her heart4 ,aunt1 ,aunt ,mary--,holiest ,mother1 in ,christ's name1 in the name of the ,new ,faith1 tell me before you go--tell me what is to become of our holy church after you die--after you pass over to the great white light4 ,is it all real8 ,or is it only a dream1 your beautiful dream8--,what is the secret truth8 ,or--or--is there no secret--no-- her voice was cracked by sobs4 ,the stately1 soundless music was waved on by her aunt4 ,then ,holiest ,mother fell back on her pillow1 and with a last long glance at the picture1 she pointed1 with smiling irony at the picture4 ,nada1 ,nada 444 ,the night died away in tender complicity with the two little lamps on the dressing table1 and the sweet1 thick perfume of magnolias modulated into acrid decay as day dawned4 ,below1 the two men anxiously awaited the message from the dead4 ,and they saw again upon the marble tablet above the fireplace her cryptic wisdom3-- ,my first and forever message is one and eternal4 ,,xx ,,pan ,for the ,great ,god ,pan is alive again4 --,,dean ,,mansel4 ,i ,the handsome ,hungarian kept his brilliant glance fixed upon ,lora ,crowne2 she sat with her ,aunt ,lucas and ,mr4 ,steyle at a table facing the orchestra4 ,his eyes were not so large as black2 the intensity of their gaze further bewildered the young woman1 whose appearance that evening at the famous caf on the ,east ,side was her initial one4 ,the heat1 the bristling lights1 the terrific appealing clamour of the gypsy band1 set murmuring the nerves of this impressionable girl4 ,and the agility of the cymbalom player1 his great height1 clear skin1 and piercing eyes1 quite enthralled her4 ,it is the gypsy dulcimer1 ,lora2 ,i read all about it in ,liszt's book on gypsy music1 said ,aunt ,lucas1 in an airy soprano4 ,mr4 ,steyle was impressed4 ,lora paid no attention1 but continued to gaze curiously at the antics of the player1 who hammered from his instrument of wire shivering1 percussive music4 ,with flexible wrists he swung the felt-covered mallets that brought up such resounding tones2 at times his long1 apelike arms would reach far asunder and1 rolling his eyes1 he touched the extremes of his cymbalom2 then he described furious arpeggios1 punctuated with a shrill tattoo4 ,and the crazy music defiled by in a struggling squad of chords2 but ,apad ,vihary never lifted his eyes from ,lora ,crowne4444 ,the vibration ceased4 ,its withdrawal left the ear-drums buzzing with a minute1 painful sensation1 like that of moisture rapidly evaporating upon the naked skin4 ,a battalion of tongues began to chatter as the red-faced waiters rushed between the tables1 taking orders4 ,it was after eleven o'clock1 and through the swinging doors passed a throng of motley people1 fanning1 gossiping1 bickering--all eager and thirsty4 ,clarence ,steyle pointed out the celebrities with conscious delight4 ,over yonder--that man with the mixed gray hair--was a composer who came every night for inspiration1--musical and otherwise1 ,clarence added1 with a laugh4 ,and there was the young and well-known decadent playwright who wore strangling high collars and transposed all his plays from ,french sources2 he lisped and was proud of his ability to dramatize the latest mental disease4 ,and a burglar who had written a famous book on the management of children during hot weather sat meekly resting before a solitary table4 ,the leader of the ,hungarian band was a gypsy who called himself ,alfassy ,janos1 though he lived on ,first ,avenue1 in a flat the door of which bore this legend3 ,jacob ,aron4 ,the rest of the band seemed gypsy4 ,who is the cymbalom player8 ,that is not difficult to answer2 the programme gives it4 ,there you are1 ,miss ,lora4 ,she looked4 ,oh1 what a romantic name6 ,he must be a count at least4 ,lora1 dear1 gypsies never bear titles1 remarked ,aunt ,lucas1 patronizingly4 ,how about the ,abb ,liszt8 triumphantly asked her charge4 ,aunt ,lucas laughed coldly4 ,liszt was ,hungarian1 not ,romany4 ,but your artist with the drumsticks certainly is distinguished-looking4 ,if he only would not wear that odious scarlet uniform4 ,i wonder why he does not sit down1 like the rest of his colleagues4 ,apad ,vihary leaned against the panelled wall1 his brow puckered in boredom1 his long black mustaches drooping from sheer discouragement4 ,his was a figure for sculpture--a frame powerfully modelled1 a bisque complexion4 ,thin as a cedar sapling1 he preserved such an immovable attitude that in the haze of the creamy atmosphere he seemed a carved1 marmoreal image rather than a young man with devouring eyes4 ,the three visitors ate sandwiches and pretended to relish ,munich beer served in tall stone mugs4 ,aunt ,lucas1 who was shaped like a 'cello1 made more than a pretence of sipping2 she drank one entirely1 regretting the exigencies of chaperonage3 to ask for more might shock the proper young man4 ,it's horrid here1 after all1 she remarked discontentedly4 ,so many people--such people--and very few nice ones4 ,the ,batsons are over there1 ,lora2 but then you don't care for them4 ,o dear1 ,i wish the band would strike up again4 ,it did4 ,a vicious swirl of colour and dizzy1 dislocated rhythms prefaced the incantations of the ,czardas4 ,instantly the eating1 gabbling crowd became silent4 ,alfassy ,janos magnetized his hearers with cradling1 caressing movements of his fiddle4 ,he waved like tall grass in the wind2 he twisted snakewise his lithe body as he lashed his bow upon the screaming strings2 the resilient tones darted fulgurantly from instrument to instrument4 ,after chasing in circles of quicksilver1 they all met with a crash2 and the whole tonal battery1 renforced by the throbbing of ,apad ,vihary's dulcimer1 swept through the suite of rooms from ceiling to sanded floor4 ,it was no longer enchanting music1 but sheer madness of the blood2 sensual and warlike1 it gripped the imagination as these tunes of old ,egypt1 filtered through savage centuries1 reached the ears4 ,lora trembled in the gale that blew across the ,puzta4 ,she imagined a determined ,hungarian prairie1 over which dashed disordered centaurs brandishing clubs1 driving before them a band of satyrs and leaping fauns4 ,the hoofed men struggled4 ,at their front was a monster with a black goat-face and huge horns2 he fought fiercely the half-human horses4 ,the sun1 a thin scarf of light1 was eclipsed by earnest clouds2 the curving thunder closed over the battle2 the air was flame-sprinkled and enlaced by music2 and most melancholy were the eyes of the defeated ,pan--the melancholy eyes of ,apad ,vihary4444 ,aunt ,lucas was scandalized4 ,do you know1 ,lora1 that the impudent dulcimer virtuoso--she prided herself on her musical terms--actually stared you out of countenance during the entire ,czardas8 ,and she could have added that her niece had returned the glance unflinchingly4 ,mr4 ,steyle noticed ,lora's vacant regard when he addressed her and insisted on getting her away from the dangerous undertow of this table d'hte music1 as he contemptuously called it4 ,he summoned the waiter4 ,lora shed her disappointment4 ,oh1 let's wait for the cymbalom solo1 she frankly begged4 ,her aunt was unmoved4 ,yes1 ,mr4 ,steyle1 we had better go2 the air is positively depressing4 ,these slumming parties are delightful if you don't overdo them--but the people6 ,up went her lorgnon4 ,they soon departed4 ,lora did not dare to look back until she reached the door that opened on the avenue2 as she did so her vibrant gaze collided with the ,hungarian's4 ,she determined to see him again4 ,,ii ,nice ,brooklyn girls always attend church and symphony concerts4 ,this dual custom is considered respectable and cultured4 ,lora's parents during their lifetime never missed the ,theodore ,thomas concerts and the sermons of a certain famous local preacher2 but there were times when the young woman longed for ,carmen and the delights of fashionable ,bohemia4 ,carefully reared by her ,aunt ,lucas1 she had nevertheless a taste for gypsy bands and ,gyp's novels4 ,she read the latter translated1 much to the disedification of her guardian1 who was a linguist and a patron of the fine arts4 ,this latter clause included subscriptions to the ,institute ,course and several scientific journals4 ,if ,lora were less romantic1 all would be well4 ,once the careful chaperon had feared music and its disturbing influences2 but after she had read an article about its healing effect upon the insane she felt that it could work no evil in ,lora2 indeed1 it was an elevating art4 ,she was fond of music herself1 and1 as dancing was strictly tabooed1 there seemed little likelihood of the noble art of sweet concordance--,aunt ,lucas had picked this quotation up somewhere--doing mischief to her impressionable niece4 ,nearly all dwelling-houses look alike in ,brooklyn1 even at midday4 ,the street in which the ,crownes lived was composed of conventional brown-stone buildings and ,english basements4 ,nielje1 the ,dutch maid1 stood at the half-opened door1 regarding with suspicion the big1 dark man who had pulled the bell so violently4 ,aunt ,lucas was in ,new ,york at the meeting of a society devoted to ,ethical ,enjoyment4 ,though ,nielje had been warned secretly of an expected visitor1 this wild-looking young man with long black hair1 wearing a flaring coat of many colours and baggy ,turkish trousers1 gave her a shock4 ,why did he come to the basement as if he were one of the cook's callers8 ,she paused4 ,then the door was shoved in by a muscular arm1 and she was pushed against the wall4 ,don't try that again1 man1 she protested4 ,he answered her in gibberish4 ,mees1 ,mees ,lora1 he repeated4 ,ach6 she exclaimed4 ,apad ,vihary gloomily followed her into the dining-room1 where ,lora stood trembling4 ,this was the third time she had met the ,hungarian1 and fearing ,prospect ,park1--after two timid walks there1 under the fiery-fingered leaves of early autumn1--she had been prevailed upon to invite ,apad to her home4 ,she regretted her imprudence the moment he entered4 ,all his footlight picturesqueness vanished in the cold1 hard light of an unromantic ,brooklyn breakfast-room4 ,he seemed like a clumsy circus hero as he scraped his feet over the parquetry and attempted to kiss her hand4 ,she drew away instantly and pointed to a chair4 ,he refused to sit down2 his pride seemed hurt4 ,then he gave the girl an intense look1 and she drew nearer4 ,oh1 ,apad ,vihary1 she began4 ,he interrupted4 ,you do not love me now4 ,why8 ,you told me you loved me1 in the park1 yesterday4 ,i am a poor artist1 that is the reason4 ,this speech he uttered glibly1 and1 despite the extraordinary pronunciation1 she understood it4 ,she took his long hand1 the fingers amazed her4 ,he bent them back until they touched his wrist1 and was proud of their flexibility4 ,he walked to the dining-table and tossed its cover-cloth on a chair4 ,upon his two thumbs he went around it like an acrobat4 ,shall ,i hold you out with one arm8 he softly asked4 ,lora was vastly amused2 this was indeed a courtship out of the ordinary--it pleased her exotic taste4 ,hungarian gypsies are very strong1 are they not8 she innocently asked4 ,i am not gypsy nor am ,i ,hungarian2 ,i am an ,east ,indian4 ,my family is royal4 ,we are of the ,rajpoot tribes called ,ranas4 ,my father once ruled ,roorbunder4 ,lora was amazed4 ,a king's son1 a ,rana of ,roorbunder6 ,she became very sympathetic4 ,again she urged him to sit down4 ,my nation never sits before a woman1 he proudly answered4 ,but ,i will sit beside you1 she coaxed1 pushing him to a corner4 ,he resisted her and went to the window4 ,lora again joined him4 ,the man piqued her4 ,he was mysterious and very unlike ,mr4 ,steyle--poor1 sentimental ,clarence1 who melted with sighs if she but glanced at him2 and then1 ,clarence was too stout4 ,she adored slender men1 believing that when fat came in at the door love fled out of the window4 ,they put me in a circus at ,buda-,pesth1 remarked ,apad ,vihary1 as if he were making a commonplace statement about the weather4 ,she gave a little scream2 he regarded her with ,oriental composure4 ,in a circus6 ,you6 ,did you ride8 ,i cannot ride1 he said4 ,i played in a cage all day4 ,because you were wild8 ,she then went into a fit of laughter4 ,he was such a funny fellow1 though his ardent gaze made her blush4 ,so blond and pink was ,lora that her friends called her ,strawberry--a delicate compliment in which she delighted4 ,it was this golden head and radiant face1 with implacably blue eyes1 that set the blood pumping into ,apad's brain4 ,when he looked at her1 he saw sunlight4 ,do you know1 you absurd prince1 that when you played the ,czardas the other night ,i seemed to see a vision of a ,hungarian prairie1 covered with fighting centaurs and satyrs6 ,i longed to be a vivandire among all those fauns4 ,you were there--in the music1 ,i mean--and you were big ,pan--oh1 so ugly and terrible6 ,pan6 ,that is a ,polish title1 he answered quite simply4 ,stupid6 ,the great god ,pan--don't you know your mythology8 ,haven't you read ,mrs4 ,browning8 ,he was the god of nature1 of the woods4 ,even now1 ,i believe you have ears with furry tips and hoofs like a faun4 ,he turned a sickly yellow4 ,anyhow1 why did they put you in a cage8 ,were you a wild boy8 ,they thought so in ,hungary4 ,but why8 ,he stared at her sorrowfully1 and was about to empty his soul2 but she turned away with a shudder4 ,i know1 ,i know1 she whispered2 your hands--they are like the hands of-- ,apad threw out his chest1 and ,lora heard with a curiosity that became nervous a rhythmic wagging sound1 like velvet bruised by some dull implement4 ,it frightened her4 ,do not be afraid of me1 he begged4 ,you cannot say anything ,i do not know already4 ,he walked to the door1 and the girl followed him4 ,don't go1 ,apad1 she said with pretty remorse4 ,the fire blazed in his eyes and with a single swift grasp he seized her1 holding her aloft like a torch4 ,lora almost lost consciousness4 ,she had not counted upon such barbarous wooing1 and1 frightened1 cried out1 ,nielje1 ,nielje6 ,nielje burst into the room as if she had been very near the keyhole4 ,she was a powerful woman from ,holland1 who did not fear an army4 ,put her down6 she insisted1 in her deepest gutturals4 ,put her down1 you brute1 or ,i'll hurt you4 ,lora jumped to the floor as ,nielje struck with her broomstick at ,apad's retreating back4 ,to the surprise of the women he gave a shriek of agony and ran to the door1 ,nielje following close behind4 ,lora1 her eyes strained with excitement1 did not stir2 she heard a struggle in the little hall as the man fumbled at the basement entrance4 ,again he yelled1 and then ,lora rushed to the window4 ,nielje1 on her knees1 was being dragged across the grassy space in front of the house4 ,she held on1 seemingly1 to the coat-tail of the frantic musician2 only by a vigorous shove did he evade her persistent grasp and disappear4 ,a policeman with official aptness went leisurely by4 ,nielje flew into the house1 locking and bolting the door4 ,her face was red as she rolled on the floor1 her hands at her sides4 ,lora1 alarmed1 thought she was seriously hurt or hysterical from fright2 but the laughter was too hearty and appealing4 ,oh1 ,meeslora6 ,oh1 ,meeslora6 she gasped4 ,he must be monkey-man--he has monkey tail6 ,lora could have fainted from chagrin and horror4 ,had the great god ,pan passed her way8 ,,books ,,by ,,james ,,huneker ,what ,maeterlinck wrote3 ,maurice ,maeterlinck wrote thus of ,james ,huneker3 ,do you know that ',iconoclasts' is the only book of high and universal critical worth that we have had for years--to be precise1 since ,georg ,brandes4 ,it is at once strong and fine1 supple and firm1 indulgent and sure4 ,the ,evening ,post of ,june #aj1 #aiae1 wrote of ,mr4 ,huneker's ,the ,new ,cosmopolis3 ,the region of ,bohemia1 ,mr4 ,james ,huneker found long ago1 is within us4 ,at twenty1 he says1 he discovered that there is no such enchanted spot as the ,latin ,quarter1 but that every generation sets back the mythical land into the golden age of the ,commune1 or of #ahdh1 or the days of ',hernani4' ,it is the same with ,new ,york's ,east ,side1 'the fabulous ,east ,side1' as ,mr4 ,huneker calls it in his collection of international urban studies1 ',the ,new ,cosmopolis4' ,if one judged externals by grime1 by poverty1 by sanded back-rooms1 with long-haired visionaries assailing the social order1 then the ,east ,side of the early eighties has gone down before the mad rush of settlement workers1 impertinent reformers1 sociological cranks1 self-advertising politicians1 billionaire socialists1 and the reporters4 ,to-day the sentimental traveller 'feels a heart-pang to see the order1 the cleanliness1 the wide streets1 the playgrounds1 the big boulevards1 the absence of indigence that have spoiled the most interesting part of ,new ,york ,city4' ,but apparently this is only a first impression2 for ,mr4 ,huneker had no trouble in discovering in one caf a patriarchal figure quite of the type beloved of the local-color hunters of twenty years ago1 a prophet1 though speaking a modern language and concerned with things of the day4 ,so that we owe to ,mr4 ,huneker the discovery of a notable truth1 namely1 that ,bohemia is not only a creation of the sentimental memory1 but1 being psychological1 may be located in clean and prosperous quarters4 ,the tendency has always been to place it in a golden age1 but a tattered and unswept age4 ,bohemia is now shown to exist amidst model tenements and sanitary drinking-cups4 ,,ivory ,,apes ,,and ,,peacocks ,,with ,,frontispiece ,,portrait ,,of ,,dosto,,evsky #abmo4 #a4ej net 99 99 99 99 99 ,,new ,,cosmopolis #abmo4 #a4ej net 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,pathos of ,,distance ,a ,book of a ,thousand and ,one ,moments #abmo4 #b4jj net 99 99 99 99 99 ,,promenades of an ,,impressionist #abmo4 #a4ej net ,we like best such sober essays as those which analyze for us the technical contributions of ,czanne and ,rodin4 ,here ,mr4 ,huneker is a real interpreter1 and here his long experience of men and ways in art counts for much4 ,charming1 in the lighter vein1 are such appreciations as the ,monticelli1 and ,chardin4--,,frank ,,jewett ,,mather1 ,,jr41 in ,new ,york ,nation and ,evening ,post4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,egoists ,a ,book of ,supermen ,,stendhal1 ,,baudelaire1 ,,flaubert1 ,,anatole ,,france1 ,,huysmans1 ,,barr,s1 ,,hello1 ,,blake1 ,,nietzsche1 ,,ibsen1 ,,and ,,max ,,stirner ,with ,portrait and ,facsimile ,reproductions #abmo4 #a4ej net 99 99 99 99 99 ,,iconoclasts3 ,a ,book of ,dramatists #abmo4 #a4ej net ,,contents3 ,henrik ,ibsen--,august ,strindberg--,henry ,becque--,gerhart ,hauptmann--,paul ,hervieu--,the ,quintessence of ,shaw--,maxim ,gorky's ,nachtasyl--,hermann ,sudermann--,princess ,mathilde's ,play--,duse and ,d',annunzio--,villiers de l',isle ,adam--,maurice ,maeterlinck4 ,his style is a little jerky1 but it is one of those rare styles in which we are led to expect some significance1 if not wit1 in every sentence4--,g4,k4 ,,chesterton1 in ,london ,daily ,news4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,overtones3 ,a ,book of ,temperaments ,,with ,,frontispiece ,,portrait ,,of ,,richard ,,strauss #abmo4 #a4ej net ,in some respects ,mr4 ,huneker must be reckoned the most brilliant of all living writers on matters musical4--,academy1 ,london4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,mezzotints ,,in ,,modern ,,music ,,brahms1 ,,tscha,,kowsky1 ,,chopin1 ,,richard ,,strauss1 ,,liszt1 ,,and ,,wagner #abmo4 #a4ej net ,mr4 ,huneker is1 in the best sense1 a critic2 he listens to the music and gives you his impressions as rapidly and in as few words as possible2 or he sketches the composers in fine1 broad1 sweeping strokes with a magnificent disregard for unimportant details4444 ,a distinctly original and very valuable contribution to the world's tiny musical literature4--,j4,f4 ,,runciman1 in ,london ,saturday ,review4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,franz ,,liszt ,,with ,,numerous ,,illustrations #abmo4 #b4jj net 99 99 99 99 99 ,,chopin3 ,the ,man and ,his ,music ,,with ,,etched ,,portrait #abmo4 #b4jj net 99 99 99 99 99 ,,visionaries #abmo4 #a4ej net ,,contents3 ,a ,master of ,cobwebs--,the ,eighth ,deadly ,sin--,the ,purse of ,aholibah--,rebels of the ,moon--,the ,spiral ,road--,a ,mock ,sun--,antichrist--,the ,eternal ,duel--,the ,enchanted ,yodler--,the ,third ,kingdom--,the ,haunted ,harpsichord--,the ,tragic ,wall--,a ,sentimental ,rebellion--,hall of the ,missing ,footsteps--,the ,cursory ,light--,an ,iron ,fan--,the ,woman ,who ,loved ,chopin--,the ,tune of ,time--,nada--,pan4 ,in ',the ,spiral ,road' and in some of the other stories both fantasy and narrative may be compared with ,hawthorne in his most unearthly moods4 ,the younger man has read his ,nietzsche and has cast off his heritage of simple morals4 ,hawthorne's ,puritanism finds no echo in these modern souls1 all sceptical1 wavering and unblessed4 ,but ,hawthorne's splendor of vision and his power of sympathy with a tormented mind do live again in the best of ,mr4 ,huneker's stories4--,london ,academy 7,feb4 #c1 #aijf74 99 99 99 99 99 ,,melomaniacs #abmo4 #a4ej net ,it would be difficult to sum up ',melomaniacs' in a phrase4 ,never did a book1 in my opinion at any rate1 exhibit greater contrasts1 not1 perhaps1 of strength and weakness1 but of clearness and obscurity4--,,harold ,e4 ,,gorst1 in ,london ,saturday ,review4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,charles ,,scribner',s ,,sons1 ,,new ,,york