WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:05.000 Chapter thirteen of Amusement Only. This is a LibriVox recording. 2 00:00:05.360 --> 00:00:08.800 All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more 3 00:00:08.839 --> 00:00:14.400 information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Recording 4 00:00:14.439 --> 00:00:20.800 by Christine g. Amusement Only by Richard marsh A Vision 5 00:00:20.839 --> 00:00:26.320 of the Night Chapter one, Asleep, Charley, do you believe 6 00:00:26.320 --> 00:00:29.160 in Dreams? It was in the Great Hall of the 7 00:00:29.199 --> 00:00:33.759 Pure Spring at spa. The band was playing. The Motley crowd, 8 00:00:33.840 --> 00:00:36.960 which gathers in the seasoned spa to drink or not 9 00:00:37.039 --> 00:00:42.640 to drink. The waters were talking, smoking, drinking coffee something stronger, 10 00:00:43.039 --> 00:00:46.799 looking at the papers, or listening to the music. Among 11 00:00:46.880 --> 00:00:50.119 the crowd were Dreerald Lovell and his friend Charles Warren. 12 00:00:50.439 --> 00:00:53.200 At the particular moment in which mister Lovell put his question, 13 00:00:53.759 --> 00:00:56.920 mister Warren was puffing rings of cigarette smoke into the air. 14 00:00:57.719 --> 00:01:03.840 Ask me, he said, with distinct irreverence. Another a queer 15 00:01:03.840 --> 00:01:07.560 thing happened to me last night. If you have any 16 00:01:07.599 --> 00:01:11.120 malicious intention of inflicting on me a dream, young man, 17 00:01:11.439 --> 00:01:14.079 there'll be a row. I have an aunt too, dreams. 18 00:01:14.519 --> 00:01:18.280 She's a dreaming thought. She's always dreaming. As she tells 19 00:01:18.280 --> 00:01:23.359 her dreams such dreams, ye goths, the men mention of 20 00:01:23.400 --> 00:01:26.719 the word dreams. The nightmare figure of my aunt writes 21 00:01:26.799 --> 00:01:31.599 to my mind's eye, So beware. But I'm not sure 22 00:01:31.640 --> 00:01:35.959 that this was a dream anyhow. Just listen if I must, 23 00:01:36.400 --> 00:01:40.760 said mister Warren, And he sighed. I dreamt that a 24 00:01:40.799 --> 00:01:44.760 woman kissed me. If only I could dream such a thing, 25 00:01:45.079 --> 00:01:48.680 some men have all the luck. The queer thing was 26 00:01:49.000 --> 00:01:51.519 that it was so real. I dreamt that a woman 27 00:01:51.599 --> 00:01:54.920 came into my room. She came to my bedside. She 28 00:01:54.959 --> 00:01:58.280 stood looking down upon me as I slept. Suddenly she 29 00:01:58.359 --> 00:02:02.239 stooped and kissed me. That same instant I awoke. I 30 00:02:02.280 --> 00:02:05.200 felt her kiss still tingling on my lips. I could 31 00:02:05.200 --> 00:02:07.879 have sworn that some one had just kissed me. I 32 00:02:07.920 --> 00:02:09.919 sat up in bed and called out to know if 33 00:02:09.960 --> 00:02:12.719 any one was there. I got up and lit the 34 00:02:12.800 --> 00:02:16.319 gas and searched the room. There was nothing and no one. 35 00:02:17.400 --> 00:02:21.080 It was a dream. If it was, it was the 36 00:02:21.080 --> 00:02:24.439 most vivid dream I remember to have heard of. Certainly 37 00:02:24.479 --> 00:02:27.360 the most vivid dream I ever dreamt. I saw the 38 00:02:27.360 --> 00:02:30.719 woman so distinctly, and her face as she stooped over me, 39 00:02:30.840 --> 00:02:33.840 with laughter in her eyes. To begin with, it was 40 00:02:33.879 --> 00:02:36.919 the most beautiful face I ever saw, and hers were 41 00:02:36.960 --> 00:02:40.919 the most beautiful eyes. The whole thing had impressed me 42 00:02:41.000 --> 00:02:43.840 so intensely that I took my sketchbook and made a 43 00:02:43.919 --> 00:02:46.479 drawing of her. Then and there, I have my sketch 44 00:02:46.520 --> 00:02:50.800 book in my pocket. Here is a drawing. Mister Lovell 45 00:02:50.879 --> 00:02:54.280 handed his open sketchbook to his friend. It was open 46 00:02:54.319 --> 00:02:56.719 at the page on which was the drawing of a 47 00:02:56.719 --> 00:03:01.280 woman's face. When mister Warren's eyes fell on thistraying, he 48 00:03:01.400 --> 00:03:06.000 sat up in his chair with a show of sudden interest. Gerald, 49 00:03:06.520 --> 00:03:10.199 I say, you'll excuse me saying so, But I didn't 50 00:03:10.240 --> 00:03:12.719 think you were capable of anything so good as this. 51 00:03:13.680 --> 00:03:15.439 Do you know that this is the best drawing of 52 00:03:15.479 --> 00:03:19.240 yours I have ever seen? Young man? I believe it is. 53 00:03:20.400 --> 00:03:22.639 It looks to me. I don't want to flatter you, 54 00:03:22.879 --> 00:03:26.199 Goodness knows you can set enough already, But it looks 55 00:03:26.199 --> 00:03:28.800 to me as though it were a genuine bit of inspiration. 56 00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:32.759 Joking apart, it seems to me almost as if it 57 00:03:32.840 --> 00:03:37.000 were an inspiration. I wish an inspiration of the same 58 00:03:37.080 --> 00:03:41.319 kind would come to me. I'd be considerably grateful even 59 00:03:41.400 --> 00:03:44.240 for a nightmare. Do you know what I should do this. 60 00:03:44.599 --> 00:03:47.840 I should use it for a picture. I thought of 61 00:03:47.919 --> 00:03:51.759 doing something of the kind myself, just the study of 62 00:03:51.800 --> 00:03:55.360 a woman's face, and you might call it. The title 63 00:03:55.400 --> 00:03:59.520 would be Upper Site, A vision of the night. A 64 00:03:59.520 --> 00:04:04.120 good idea I will. And mister Lovell did when he 65 00:04:04.159 --> 00:04:08.080 returned to his Chelsea studio. He chose a moderate sized canvas, 66 00:04:08.120 --> 00:04:10.560 and he began to paint on it a woman's face, 67 00:04:12.120 --> 00:04:15.439 just a woman's face and nothing more. She was looking 68 00:04:15.479 --> 00:04:17.879 a little downwards, as a woman might look who was 69 00:04:17.920 --> 00:04:20.480 about to stoop to kiss some one lying asleep on bed, 70 00:04:20.959 --> 00:04:24.120 say a sleeping child, And she glanced from the canvas 71 00:04:24.160 --> 00:04:27.680 with laughing eyes. Mister Warren came in to look at 72 00:04:27.720 --> 00:04:31.879 it several times while it was progressing. When it was finished, 73 00:04:31.879 --> 00:04:36.680 he regarded it for some moments in silent contemplation. I 74 00:04:36.920 --> 00:04:42.319 call that, he declared, sentiously with what he supposed, perhaps errendiously, 75 00:04:42.680 --> 00:04:46.560 to be a Yankee twoe, a genuine work of art. 76 00:04:47.240 --> 00:04:51.319 I do the thing, young man. If you poll were 77 00:04:51.360 --> 00:04:54.319 that were your compliments or without em to the President, 78 00:04:54.839 --> 00:04:58.240 fellows and assachates of the Royal Academy, I'll bet you 79 00:04:58.360 --> 00:05:03.399 five to one. It hung his prediction was verified. It 80 00:05:03.560 --> 00:05:06.959 was hung. It was the first of mister Lovell's pictures 81 00:05:06.959 --> 00:05:09.959 which ever had been hung, which made the fact none 82 00:05:10.000 --> 00:05:14.759 the less gratifying to mister Lovell. It was hung very well, too, considering, 83 00:05:15.199 --> 00:05:18.079 and it attracted quite a considerable amount of attention in 84 00:05:18.160 --> 00:05:22.160 its way. It was sold on the opening day. That 85 00:05:22.279 --> 00:05:27.279 fact was not displeasing to mister Lovell. One morning, about 86 00:05:27.279 --> 00:05:29.319 the middle of June, a card was brought in to 87 00:05:29.399 --> 00:05:32.879 mister Lovell while he was working in his studio. On 88 00:05:33.000 --> 00:05:36.920 it was inscribed a name VI Conte de Mierret. The 89 00:05:36.959 --> 00:05:40.800 card was immediately followed by its owner, a tall, slightly built, 90 00:05:40.800 --> 00:05:45.800 a gentleman, unmistakably a foreigner. He saluted mister Lovell with 91 00:05:45.839 --> 00:05:51.639 a bow which was undoubtedly Parisian, mister Gerard Leven. The 92 00:05:51.720 --> 00:05:55.040 accent was French, but for a Frenchman the English was fair. 93 00:05:56.120 --> 00:05:59.879 I am Gerald Lovell. Ah, that is good. You are 94 00:06:00.040 --> 00:06:03.920 a gentleman, mister Lovell, whom I particularly wished to see. 95 00:06:04.800 --> 00:06:07.279 The stranger had been carrying his stick in one hand, 96 00:06:07.319 --> 00:06:10.319 and he sat in the other. These he now deposited 97 00:06:10.519 --> 00:06:15.360 upon one chair, himself replaced upon a second. Uninvited, he 98 00:06:15.399 --> 00:06:18.199 crossed his legs. He folded his black cloved hands in 99 00:06:18.199 --> 00:06:21.680 front of him. I believe, mister Horlovell, that we are 100 00:06:21.720 --> 00:06:25.839 not strangers, you and I. Mister Lovell glanced at the card, 101 00:06:26.240 --> 00:06:30.839 which he still was holding. You are there, vicomte de miriere. 102 00:06:31.800 --> 00:06:36.040 I am I am afraid it is unpardonable remissnance on 103 00:06:36.079 --> 00:06:38.319 my part. But I am afraid that if I have 104 00:06:38.399 --> 00:06:40.959 ever had the pleasure of meeting you before, it is 105 00:06:41.000 --> 00:06:44.279 a pleasure which has escaped my memory. It is not 106 00:06:44.319 --> 00:06:47.079 that we have ever met before. No, it is not 107 00:06:47.199 --> 00:06:49.240 that it is my name to which you are not 108 00:06:49.279 --> 00:06:55.199 a stranger. Mister Lovell glanced again at the card your name. 109 00:06:55.879 --> 00:06:58.639 I am afraid, vicomte, that I do not remember having 110 00:06:58.680 --> 00:07:03.519 ever heard your name before. Ah? Is that so? The 111 00:07:03.519 --> 00:07:06.639 stranger regarded his polished boots. He spoke as if he 112 00:07:06.720 --> 00:07:10.879 were addressing himself to them. Is it possible that she 113 00:07:10.959 --> 00:07:14.079 can have given another name? No, it is not possible. 114 00:07:14.519 --> 00:07:17.399 She is capable of many things. I do not believe 115 00:07:17.519 --> 00:07:20.480 she is capable of that. He looked up again at 116 00:07:20.480 --> 00:07:23.279 mister Lovell. My business with you, mister Lovell, is of 117 00:07:23.399 --> 00:07:27.120 rather a peculiar kind. You will think, perhaps that mine 118 00:07:27.160 --> 00:07:30.199 is rather a singular Errand I have come to ask 119 00:07:30.279 --> 00:07:33.079 you to acquaint me with the resident of my wife. 120 00:07:34.480 --> 00:07:38.439 Whether did you say, with the residence of your wife? 121 00:07:39.600 --> 00:07:41.879 That is what I said. I have come to ask 122 00:07:41.920 --> 00:07:44.759 you to acquaint me with the residence of my wife. 123 00:07:45.879 --> 00:07:49.480 The artist stared. But so far as I am aware, 124 00:07:49.839 --> 00:07:54.439 I do not know your wife. That is absurd. I 125 00:07:54.519 --> 00:07:57.240 do not say, mister Lovell, that you are conscious of 126 00:07:57.240 --> 00:08:01.160 the absurdity. But still it is a I was not 127 00:08:01.240 --> 00:08:03.800 aware that you are acquainted with my wife until I 128 00:08:03.879 --> 00:08:08.480 learned the fact this morning at your academy, at our academy, 129 00:08:09.040 --> 00:08:13.319 precisely upon the worlds of your academy of painting, mister Lovell. 130 00:08:14.720 --> 00:08:17.439 Mister Lovell began to wonder if his visitor was not 131 00:08:17.519 --> 00:08:22.720 an amiable French lunatic. Is that not rather a singular 132 00:08:22.839 --> 00:08:25.839 place in which to learn such a fact. It is 133 00:08:25.879 --> 00:08:28.839 a singular place. It is a very singular place, indeed. 134 00:08:29.199 --> 00:08:31.519 But that has nothing to do with the matter. It is, 135 00:08:31.560 --> 00:08:34.200 as I say, you have a picture, mister Lovell, at 136 00:08:34.240 --> 00:08:39.759 the academy I have it is a portrait. Pardon me, 137 00:08:40.080 --> 00:08:43.559 it is not a portrait. Pardon me, mister Lovell. In 138 00:08:43.639 --> 00:08:46.720 my turn, it is a portrait. As a portrait, it 139 00:08:46.799 --> 00:08:49.720 is a perfect portrait. It is a portrait of my wife, 140 00:08:50.879 --> 00:08:56.279 of your wife. You are dreaming, you flatter me, mister Lovell. 141 00:08:56.600 --> 00:08:59.240 Is it that you suppose I am an embathy? I'm 142 00:08:59.279 --> 00:09:02.000 not a feature of a wife familiar to her husband, 143 00:09:02.679 --> 00:09:05.879 very good, I am the husband of my wife. Your picture, 144 00:09:05.919 --> 00:09:09.759 mister Lovell, is a portrait of my wife. I cannot 145 00:09:09.759 --> 00:09:12.200 but think you have mistaken some other picture for mine. 146 00:09:12.559 --> 00:09:15.120 Mine is simply a study of a woman's faith. It 147 00:09:15.200 --> 00:09:18.679 is called a vision of the night precisely, and the 148 00:09:18.799 --> 00:09:23.320 vision of the night is my wife. It is impossible, 149 00:09:24.240 --> 00:09:26.759 do I understand you to say, mister Lovell, of a 150 00:09:26.879 --> 00:09:29.799 thing which I say, is so that it is impossible? 151 00:09:31.440 --> 00:09:35.240 The Vicomte rose, His voice had a very significant intonation. 152 00:09:36.039 --> 00:09:40.080 Mister Lovell resented it. I do not know, Vicomte, that 153 00:09:40.159 --> 00:09:43.600 I am called upon to explain to you, But in 154 00:09:43.679 --> 00:09:47.000 faith of your remarkable statement, I will volunteer an explanation. 155 00:09:47.759 --> 00:09:52.559 I saw the faith which I have painted in a dream. Indeed, 156 00:09:52.919 --> 00:09:55.919 is that so? What sort of dream was it in 157 00:09:56.039 --> 00:09:59.639 which you saw my wife's face? Mister Lovell? The young 158 00:09:59.679 --> 00:10:04.480 man flushed the strangest tone was distinctly offensive. It was 159 00:10:04.519 --> 00:10:09.039 in a dream which I dreamed last August at Spa. Ah, 160 00:10:09.159 --> 00:10:11.879 this is crees. At what hotel were you stopping last 161 00:10:11.919 --> 00:10:17.240 August at Spa at the Hotel de Flandre. Though I 162 00:10:17.279 --> 00:10:21.159 don't know why you ask, so we approached your point. 163 00:10:21.200 --> 00:10:24.000 At last last August, my wife and I we were 164 00:10:24.080 --> 00:10:27.399 at Spa. We stayed my wife and I at the 165 00:10:27.480 --> 00:10:31.000 Hotel de Flandre. It was at the Hotel de Flandrey 166 00:10:31.080 --> 00:10:34.559 my wife left me. I have never seen her since. Perhaps, 167 00:10:34.639 --> 00:10:37.679 mister Gerald Blauvel, you will be so good as to 168 00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:40.120 inform me what sort of dream it was in which 169 00:10:40.120 --> 00:10:43.039 she saw my wife's face at the Hotel la Flandre 170 00:10:43.240 --> 00:10:48.639 last August at Spa. Mister Lovell hesitated. He perceived that 171 00:10:48.679 --> 00:10:51.960 caution was advisable. He felt that if he entered into 172 00:10:52.039 --> 00:10:55.360 minute particulars of his dream there might be a misunderstanding 173 00:10:55.399 --> 00:10:58.960 with the vicomte. So he temporized, or he endeavored to. 174 00:10:59.480 --> 00:11:01.279 I have already he told you that I saw the 175 00:11:01.360 --> 00:11:03.879 face in my picture in a dream. It is the 176 00:11:03.960 --> 00:11:07.039 simple fact that I have no other explanation to offer. 177 00:11:08.320 --> 00:11:12.360 Is that, sir? That is so very good so far, 178 00:11:12.559 --> 00:11:15.879 mister Gerald Lovell, I thought it possible that you might 179 00:11:15.960 --> 00:11:19.039 have some explanation of this kind to offer. I was 180 00:11:19.039 --> 00:11:21.639 at the academy with a friend when I perceived my 181 00:11:21.679 --> 00:11:24.720 wife's portrait on the wolves, and that is what painted 182 00:11:24.759 --> 00:11:27.480 by a mister Gerald Lovell. I said to my friend, 183 00:11:28.039 --> 00:11:30.200 I will go to this mister Lovell, and I will 184 00:11:30.200 --> 00:11:33.200 ask him, among other things, who authorized him to exhibit 185 00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:36.399 my wife's portrait in the absence of a husband in 186 00:11:36.440 --> 00:11:40.080 a place of public resort, as if it were an advertisement. 187 00:11:41.039 --> 00:11:44.399 My friend proposed to accompany me, but I said no, 188 00:11:44.879 --> 00:11:47.960 I will go first of all alone. I will see 189 00:11:47.960 --> 00:11:51.679 what sort of explanation mister gerald Lovell has to offer. 190 00:11:52.440 --> 00:11:55.799 If it is not a satisfactory explanation, then we will 191 00:11:55.840 --> 00:11:58.759 go together. You and I. I go to seek my friend, 192 00:11:58.759 --> 00:12:01.879 mister Lovell. He is not very far away. Shortly we 193 00:12:01.919 --> 00:12:05.799 will return. Then I will request of your courtesy and 194 00:12:05.960 --> 00:12:09.000 explanation of that very curious dream in which you saw 195 00:12:09.039 --> 00:12:12.919 my wife's face at the Hotel de Flandres. Mister Lovell, 196 00:12:13.039 --> 00:12:16.200 I wish you in till then good day. The vicomte 197 00:12:16.480 --> 00:12:20.600 withdrew with the same extremely courtious salutation with which she 198 00:12:20.639 --> 00:12:24.480 had entered the artist left alone, looked at his visitor's card, 199 00:12:24.639 --> 00:12:27.399 which he still retained in his hand, with a very 200 00:12:27.399 --> 00:12:31.679 puzzled expression of countenance. If the Vicomte de me Rey returns, 201 00:12:32.120 --> 00:12:36.279 it strikes me, there'll be a little interesting conversation. He 202 00:12:36.399 --> 00:12:39.399 laid down the card. He resumed the work which had 203 00:12:39.440 --> 00:12:43.600 been interrupted, But the work hung fire. Paint to paint, 204 00:12:44.080 --> 00:12:47.519 not only with his hand, but with his brain. Mister 205 00:12:47.559 --> 00:12:53.279 Lovell's brain was just then preoccupied. It was a dream. 206 00:12:53.519 --> 00:12:55.720 And yet, as I told Warren at a time, it 207 00:12:55.799 --> 00:12:59.279 certainly was the most vivid dream I ever dreamt. Deserting 208 00:12:59.320 --> 00:13:02.799 his canvas, began to move about the room, Supposing it 209 00:13:02.840 --> 00:13:04.840 wasn't a dream, and the woman was a creature of 210 00:13:04.840 --> 00:13:07.440 flesh and blood, and she must have come into my 211 00:13:07.559 --> 00:13:11.440 room and kissed me while I slept. I'll swear that 212 00:13:11.519 --> 00:13:15.120 some one kissed me. By jove, the Vicomte won't like 213 00:13:15.200 --> 00:13:17.679 to be all a tale like that, as he says, 214 00:13:17.960 --> 00:13:20.320 a man ought to know his own wife's face when 215 00:13:20.360 --> 00:13:23.080 he sees it, even in a portrait. And if the 216 00:13:23.120 --> 00:13:25.279 picture is a portrait of his wife, then it was 217 00:13:25.279 --> 00:13:27.919 his wife who came into my room and kissed me. 218 00:13:28.600 --> 00:13:31.159 But whatever made her do a thing like that. There's 219 00:13:31.200 --> 00:13:33.919 no knowing what things some woman will do. I rather 220 00:13:33.960 --> 00:13:36.080 fancy that I ought to have made a few inquiries 221 00:13:36.120 --> 00:13:38.519 before I took it for granted that there was nothing 222 00:13:38.559 --> 00:13:41.120 but a dream. They would have been able to tell 223 00:13:41.120 --> 00:13:43.279 me at the hotel if the original of my dream 224 00:13:43.320 --> 00:13:46.559 had been staying there as it is. Unless her mind 225 00:13:46.559 --> 00:13:48.759 my peace and cues, I rather fancy there'll be a 226 00:13:48.840 --> 00:13:53.879 row ador, may I enter? Mister Lovell was standing with 227 00:13:53.960 --> 00:13:57.159 his back to the door. The inquiry, therefore, was addressed 228 00:13:57.159 --> 00:14:00.759 to him from behind. The voice in which was uttered 229 00:14:00.799 --> 00:14:05.440 was feminine, and the accent foreign. The artist turned and stared, 230 00:14:06.240 --> 00:14:08.799 for there, peeping through the partly open door was the 231 00:14:08.840 --> 00:14:12.200 woman of his dream. There cannot be the slightest doubt 232 00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:15.320 about it. Although the head was covered with the latest 233 00:14:15.320 --> 00:14:18.600 thing in Parisian hats, there was no mistaking when one 234 00:14:18.639 --> 00:14:21.360 once had seen it, as he had seen it, that 235 00:14:21.519 --> 00:14:26.799 lovely face, those laughing eyes. He stared and gaped. The 236 00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:30.080 lady seemed to take his silence to imply consent. She 237 00:14:30.120 --> 00:14:34.679 advanced into the room. You are, mister gerald loovl. As 238 00:14:34.720 --> 00:14:37.279 she came into the room, he perceived that she was 239 00:14:37.279 --> 00:14:42.200 not only most divinely fair, but most divinely tall. Her figure, 240 00:14:42.600 --> 00:14:45.600 clad in the most recent coquetries of Paris, was the 241 00:14:45.639 --> 00:14:49.519 most exquisite thing in figures he had lately seen. So 242 00:14:49.679 --> 00:14:53.080 completely had she taken his faculties of astonishment by storm 243 00:14:53.480 --> 00:14:56.679 that he could only stammer a response, you are the 244 00:14:56.799 --> 00:15:00.320 painter of my portrait. For the life of him, not 245 00:15:00.360 --> 00:15:03.879 what to say. But if you are, mister Gierolovell, it 246 00:15:03.960 --> 00:15:06.879 is certain that you are. Besides, I see it in 247 00:15:06.960 --> 00:15:09.720 your faith that I s a genius in your eyes, 248 00:15:10.399 --> 00:15:12.480 mister Lovell, how a might you thank you for the 249 00:15:12.559 --> 00:15:15.960 honor you have done me. Moving to him, she held 250 00:15:15.960 --> 00:15:19.399 out to him her hand. He gave her his. She 251 00:15:19.559 --> 00:15:22.639 retained it, or rather part of it, in her small palm. 252 00:15:23.559 --> 00:15:27.440 If I am ever destined to attain immortality, it is 253 00:15:27.480 --> 00:15:31.000 to your brush it will be owing, monsieur, permit me 254 00:15:31.080 --> 00:15:34.960 to salute the master. Before he had an inkling of 255 00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:37.519 her intention, she raised his hand and touched it with 256 00:15:37.600 --> 00:15:43.120 her lips. He withdrew it quickly, Madame, She exhibited no 257 00:15:43.240 --> 00:15:46.799 signs of discomposure. I was at your academy with a 258 00:15:46.919 --> 00:15:50.480 friend not half an hour ago. I beheld mylds of 259 00:15:50.600 --> 00:15:55.559 me deo crecy. Suddenly I saw my face, my own faith, 260 00:15:56.080 --> 00:16:00.279 glancing at me from the walls ah culples, Sire, But 261 00:16:00.360 --> 00:16:04.240 my face, how many times more lovely, how many times 262 00:16:04.279 --> 00:16:07.879 more beautiful? My face depicted by the hand of a 263 00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:13.440 great artist, by the brush of a poet. Indeed, Genius, monsieur, 264 00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:18.440 you have placed only ten thousand obligations. She gave him 265 00:16:18.440 --> 00:16:22.039 the most sweeping courtesy with which she ever had been favored, 266 00:16:22.360 --> 00:16:25.759 and in her eyes was laughter. All the time he 267 00:16:25.919 --> 00:16:29.200 was recovering his presence of mind. He felt that it 268 00:16:29.279 --> 00:16:31.399 was time to put a stop to the lady's flow 269 00:16:31.519 --> 00:16:35.080 of flowery language. He was about to do so when 270 00:16:35.080 --> 00:16:37.120 a question she put to him again sent half his 271 00:16:37.200 --> 00:16:40.639 sense's flying. There is one thing which I wished to 272 00:16:40.679 --> 00:16:43.759 ask you, monsieur, When and where did I see to 273 00:16:43.840 --> 00:16:46.879 you for my portrait. I do not remember to have 274 00:16:46.919 --> 00:16:49.559 had the pleasure and the honor of meeting you before. 275 00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:53.120 The lady's laughing eyes were fixed intently on his face. 276 00:16:54.720 --> 00:16:56.840 And yet as I look at you, a sort of 277 00:16:57.000 --> 00:17:00.799 chadwy recollections come to me of a previous encounter. It 278 00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:05.400 is very strange, monsieur, Where was it we encountered you? 279 00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:10.599 And I, madam, Seeing how evidently he was at a 280 00:17:10.599 --> 00:17:12.960 loss of four words, she put out her hand to him, 281 00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:17.279 as if to give him courage. Do not be afraid. 282 00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:21.799 Tell me where was it that you saw me? I 283 00:17:21.839 --> 00:17:26.480 saw you in a dream, A dream, monsieur. To hear 284 00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:30.079 you speak, it is like a poem. Monsieur, Why did 285 00:17:30.119 --> 00:17:32.359 you dream this dream in which you dreamt of me? 286 00:17:32.960 --> 00:17:38.079 It was last year at Spa. It spar that horrible place. 287 00:17:39.440 --> 00:17:43.240 I did not find it a horrible place. No, was 288 00:17:43.240 --> 00:17:45.240 it that dream which you dreamt of me? When she 289 00:17:45.319 --> 00:17:48.839 rubbed it of its aura, he did not speak. He 290 00:17:48.880 --> 00:17:51.440 allowed her to infair a compliment, but he did not 291 00:17:51.559 --> 00:17:56.160 profer one. But Monsieur, I was only at Spa one afternoon, 292 00:17:56.200 --> 00:17:59.799 in a single night. It was that night I dreamed 293 00:17:59.839 --> 00:18:03.920 of you you dreamed. How tell me about this dream? 294 00:18:06.519 --> 00:18:08.680 I dreamed that she came into my room while I 295 00:18:08.759 --> 00:18:12.680 was asleep in bed and kissed me. She continued to 296 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:15.799 look at him intently a moment longer, as if she 297 00:18:15.799 --> 00:18:19.160 did not recognize the full meaning of his words. Then 298 00:18:19.720 --> 00:18:23.519 let us do her justice. The blood rushed to her face, 299 00:18:24.119 --> 00:18:27.880 her cheeks flamed fiercely red. With her hands, she wheeled 300 00:18:27.880 --> 00:18:32.000 her eyes. She gave a little cry, Ah, mon dieu, 301 00:18:32.640 --> 00:18:37.640 it was you, I remember, kill aaurere. There was silence 302 00:18:38.079 --> 00:18:41.240 before she removed her hands from her eyes. She turned away. 303 00:18:42.279 --> 00:18:44.640 She stood with her back towards him, trifling with a 304 00:18:44.680 --> 00:18:47.880 brush which she had placed upon the table. She spoke 305 00:18:47.960 --> 00:18:52.799 scarcely above a whisper, Monsieur, I thought you were asleep. 306 00:18:53.839 --> 00:18:57.119 I was asleep. I saw you in a dream. Then 307 00:18:57.160 --> 00:19:01.119 did did I wake you? You must have done. I 308 00:19:01.240 --> 00:19:04.200 woke you. Must forgive me, saying so with a kiss 309 00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:07.960 tingling on my lips, the lady put her hands off 310 00:19:07.960 --> 00:19:11.720 to her eyes again. The dream had been so vivid 311 00:19:11.759 --> 00:19:14.079 I could not understand it. I got up to see 312 00:19:14.119 --> 00:19:16.920 if any one was in the room, if you had 313 00:19:17.079 --> 00:19:21.039 caught me. There was no one. But so acutely had 314 00:19:21.039 --> 00:19:23.920 your face impressed itself on my imagination that I took 315 00:19:23.960 --> 00:19:26.400 my sketch book and made a drawing of it. Then 316 00:19:26.440 --> 00:19:29.400 then there in the morning I showed this drawing to 317 00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:32.240 a friend. He advised me to use it for a picture. 318 00:19:32.680 --> 00:19:35.759 I did. That picture is a vision of the night. 319 00:19:36.599 --> 00:19:40.519 It is the most extraordinary thing, monsieur. You will suppose 320 00:19:40.599 --> 00:19:43.519 I am a very peculiar person. It is but a 321 00:19:43.640 --> 00:19:46.559 lame explanation I have to offer of that I am 322 00:19:46.599 --> 00:19:50.480 but too conscious. But such as it is, I entreat 323 00:19:50.519 --> 00:19:53.559 that you will suffer me to give it to you. Monsieur. 324 00:19:53.640 --> 00:19:57.319 I am married. Mister Lovell bowed. He did not mention 325 00:19:57.400 --> 00:20:00.319 that he was aware of that already to the most 326 00:20:00.359 --> 00:20:04.000 capricious husband in the world, to a husband to my love, 327 00:20:04.079 --> 00:20:07.880 but whom I cannot respect. Mister Lovell thought that that 328 00:20:08.039 --> 00:20:11.720 was good from her. He is a man who is 329 00:20:11.799 --> 00:20:15.160 extremely deficile. Monsieur. I do not think you have a 330 00:20:15.200 --> 00:20:18.599 word which expresses what I would say in English. He 331 00:20:18.680 --> 00:20:22.400 is extremely jealous. He is enraged that his wife should 332 00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:25.200 use the eyes which are in her head. The very 333 00:20:25.279 --> 00:20:27.359 day in which we arrived at Spa, we had a 334 00:20:27.480 --> 00:20:30.799 dreadful quarrel. I will not speak of the treatment to 335 00:20:30.839 --> 00:20:33.720 which I was subjected. It is enough to say that 336 00:20:33.799 --> 00:20:36.319 he locked the door so that I should not leave 337 00:20:36.319 --> 00:20:40.039 the room. He wished to make of me a prisoner, Monsieur. 338 00:20:40.119 --> 00:20:42.960 Directly he was gone, I perceived that there were two 339 00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:46.400 doors or to the room, the one which he had locked, 340 00:20:46.640 --> 00:20:51.359 and another which I tried. I found that it was open, Monsieur. 341 00:20:51.799 --> 00:20:54.920 When the prisoner decides to escape. He escapes by any 342 00:20:55.039 --> 00:20:59.160 road which offers. I was a prisoner. I desired to escape. 343 00:20:59.480 --> 00:21:01.960 I made you of the only rod which I could find. 344 00:21:02.440 --> 00:21:05.279 I entered the door. I found myself in a room 345 00:21:05.400 --> 00:21:08.799 in which there was, how shall I say it, in 346 00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:11.519 which there was a man asleep, Monsieur, it was you. 347 00:21:12.880 --> 00:21:15.000 It must be owned that at this point the lady 348 00:21:15.079 --> 00:21:18.880 certainly did look down. I was that night in a 349 00:21:18.880 --> 00:21:21.920 wicked mood. I glanced at you. I perceive that you 350 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:25.000 were but a boy with the level flushed. He did 351 00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:28.640 not consider himself a boy, but a handsome boy. She 352 00:21:28.720 --> 00:21:31.960 peeped at him with malicious laughter in her eyes. I 353 00:21:32.039 --> 00:21:35.839 regarded myself as your mother, or your sister, or your guardian. Angel. 354 00:21:36.440 --> 00:21:39.880 Monsieur will perceive how much I am the elder. Again, 355 00:21:40.079 --> 00:21:44.279 a glance of laughing malice from those bewitching eyes. I 356 00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:46.720 am afraid it is too try that I approached the 357 00:21:46.759 --> 00:21:51.079 sleeping lips. There was silence, then, so softly that her 358 00:21:51.079 --> 00:21:54.000 listener was only able to catch the words. I pray 359 00:21:54.079 --> 00:21:57.240 that Monsieur will forgive me. There is nothing for which 360 00:21:57.279 --> 00:22:02.079 madame needs forgiveness. Monsieux, but says so to give me pleasure. 361 00:22:02.440 --> 00:22:06.000 But one thing, Monsieur must permit me to observe. If 362 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:08.559 every woman were to be rewarded as I have been 363 00:22:08.839 --> 00:22:11.559 for what I did, half the woman in France would 364 00:22:11.559 --> 00:22:16.200 commit a similar little In this question, mister Lovell was silent. 365 00:22:16.599 --> 00:22:20.039 He did not know exactly what to say. Monsieur will 366 00:22:20.079 --> 00:22:23.279 permit me to regard him from this day forward as 367 00:22:23.319 --> 00:22:27.240 my friend, mister a Giraard Lavelle. Permit me to introduce 368 00:22:27.240 --> 00:22:31.400 it to you, the vicomtesse to mere re, the lady 369 00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:35.519 favored him with another sweeping courtesy. I've already the pleasure 370 00:22:35.559 --> 00:22:39.480 of being acquainted with Madame's name. From whom did you 371 00:22:39.599 --> 00:22:42.640 learn it from the people at the hotel? I but 372 00:22:42.839 --> 00:22:45.480 learned it a few minutes before Madame herself came here. 373 00:22:46.400 --> 00:22:50.119 So from whom I learned it from? The Vicomte de 374 00:22:50.160 --> 00:22:55.640 Mearet di vi Conte de Meret, my husband. Are you 375 00:22:55.680 --> 00:22:59.480 acquainted with him? Then I can scarcely claim to be 376 00:22:59.480 --> 00:23:03.079 acquainted with the Vicomte. It seems, Madame, that this has 377 00:23:03.119 --> 00:23:06.720 been a morning of coincidences. It would appear that just 378 00:23:06.759 --> 00:23:09.880 before Madame perceived my little picture at the academy, the 379 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:15.119 Vicomte de Meirere perceived it too, truly, but how magnificent. 380 00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:19.039 The lady clasped her hands in a little ecstasy. The 381 00:23:19.160 --> 00:23:22.240 Vicomte de meire Rey did not seem to consider it magnificent. 382 00:23:22.480 --> 00:23:26.640 He took a distinctly contrary view. But that is sertain. 383 00:23:27.759 --> 00:23:30.880 He requested me to furnish him with your address. When 384 00:23:30.880 --> 00:23:33.440 I informed him that I was not acquainted with Madame, 385 00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:36.200 he desired to know who had authorized me to send 386 00:23:36.279 --> 00:23:39.640 your portrait to a public exhibition. When I informed him 387 00:23:39.640 --> 00:23:42.359 that I was not acquainted with Madame, he desired to 388 00:23:42.440 --> 00:23:44.880 know who had authorized me to send me your portrait 389 00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:48.440 to a public exhibition. I observed that I was not 390 00:23:48.519 --> 00:23:50.720 aware that it was a portrait of Madame, since the 391 00:23:50.759 --> 00:23:52.799 face in the picture was but the study of a 392 00:23:52.880 --> 00:23:56.640 face which I had seen in a dream, in a dream. 393 00:23:57.240 --> 00:24:01.160 You did not tell him the little history I entered 394 00:24:01.160 --> 00:24:04.880 into no particulars. I entreat you, monsieur, not to tell 395 00:24:04.920 --> 00:24:07.839 in the history. There will be a scandal. He is 396 00:24:07.880 --> 00:24:14.319 so quick to misconceive. I will endeavor to observe Madame's souchius. 397 00:24:15.119 --> 00:24:17.480 It is like a little romance. It is not, monsieur. 398 00:24:18.279 --> 00:24:21.920 Perhaps I should explain myself a little further. That night, 399 00:24:22.440 --> 00:24:26.319 she emphasized that and left my husband. In effect, he 400 00:24:26.400 --> 00:24:29.839 had become unbearable. I have seen and heard nothing of 401 00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:33.079