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Speaker 1: Napoleon and the Specter by Charlotte Bronte. Well as I

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was saying, the Emperor got into bed, Chevalier says he

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to his valet, let down those window curtains and shut

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the casement before you leave the room. Chevalier did as

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he was told, and, then, taking up his candlestick, departed.

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In a few minutes, the Emperor felt his pillow becoming

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rather hard, and he got up to shake it. As

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he did so, a slight rustling noise was heard near

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the bed head. His Majesty listened, but all was silent

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as he lay down again. Scarcely had he settled into

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a peaceful attitude of repose when he was disturbed by

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a sensation of thirst. Lifting himself on his elbow, he

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took a glass of lemonade from the small stand which

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was placed beside him. He refreshed himself by a deep draft.

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As he returned the goblet to its station, a deep

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groan burst from a kind of closet in one corner

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the apartment. Who's there, cried the Emperor, seizing his pistols,

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speak or I'll blow your brains out. This threat produced

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no other effect than a short, sharp laugh and dead

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silence followed. The Emperor started from his couch and, hastily,

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throwing on a robe de chambre which hung over the

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back of a chair, stepped courageously to the haunted closet.

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As he opened the door, something rustled. He sprang forward,

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sword in hand. No soul or even substance appeared, and

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the rustling, it was evident, proceeded from the falling of

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a cloak, which had been suspended by a peg from

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the door. Half ashamed of himself, he returned to bed.

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Just as he was about once more to close his eyes,

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the light of the three wax tapers, which burned in

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a silver branch over the mantelpiece, was suddenly darkened. He

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looked up a black, opaque shadow obscured it. Sweating with terror,

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the Emperor put out his hand to seize the bell rope,

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but some invisible being snatched it rudely from his grasp,

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and at the same instant the ominous shade vanished. Pooh, exclaimed, Napoleon,

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it was but an ocular delusion? Was it? Whispered a

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hollow voice, in deep, mysterious tones close to his ear?

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Was it a delusion? Emperor of France, all thou hast

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heard and seen his sad forewarning reality rise, lifter of

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the eagle, standard, awake, swear of the lily scepter, follow me, Napoleon,

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and thou shalt see more. As the voice ceased, a

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form dawned on his astonished sight. It was that of

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a tall, thin man, dressed in a blue curteau edged

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with gold lace. It wore a black cravat very tightly

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round its neck and confined by two little sticks placed

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behind each ear. The countenance was livid, the tongue protruded

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from between the teeth, and the eyes all glaze and

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bloodshot started with frightful prominence from their sockets. Mon Dieux

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exclaimed the Emperor, what do I see, specter? Whence comest thou?

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The apparition spoke not but gliding forward, beckoned Napoleon with

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uplifted fingers to follow. Controlled by a mysterious influence which

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deprived him of the capability of either thinking or acting

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for himself, he obeyed in silence. The solid wall of

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the apartment fell open as they approached, and when both

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had passed through, it closed behind them with a noise

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like thunder. They would now have been in total darkness,

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had it not been for a dim light which shone

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round the ghost and revealed the damp walls of a

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long vaulted passage. Down this they proceeded with mute rapidity,

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ere long a cool, refreshing breeze, which rushed wailing up

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the vault and caused the Emperor to wrap his loose

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night dress closer round announced their approach to the open air.

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This they soon reached, and Nap found himself in one

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of the principal streets of Paris, were they spirit, said he,

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shivering in the chill night air. Permit me to return

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and put on some additional clothing. I will be with

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you again presently, forward, replied his companion sternly. He felt

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compelled in spite of the rising indignation, which almost choked

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him to obey. On they went through the deserted streets

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till they arrived at a lofty house built on the

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banks of the sand. Here the specter stopped the gates

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rolled back to receive them, and they entered a large

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marble hall, which was partly concealed by a curtain drawn

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across through the half transparent folds of which a bright

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light might be seen burning with dazzling luster. A row

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of fine female figures, richly attired, stood before this screen.

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They wore on their heads garlands of the most beautiful flowers,

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but their faces were concealed by ghastly masks representing death's heads.

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What is all these mummerie, cried the emperor, making an

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effort to shake off the metal shackles by which he

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was so unwillingly restrained. Where am I and why have

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I been brought here? Silence, said the guide, lolling out

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still further his black and bloody tongue. Silence. If thou

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wouldst escape instant death, the emperor would have replied, his

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natural courage, overcoming the temporary awe which he had at

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first been subjected. But just then a strain of wild,

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supernatural music swelled behind the huge curtain, which waved to

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and fro and bellied slowly out, as if agitated by

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some internal commotion or battle of waving winds. At the

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same moment, an overpowering mixture of the sense of mortal corruption,

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blent with the richest Eastern odors, stole through the haunted hall.

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A murmur of many voices was now heard at a distance,

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and something grasped his arm eagerly. From behind, he turned

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hastily round. His eyes met the well known countenance of

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Marie Louise. What are you in this inferno place? Too?

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Said he? What has brought to you here? Will your

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majesty permit me to ask the same question of yourself,

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said the Impress, smiling. He made no reply. Astonishment prevented him.

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No curtain now intervened between him and the light. It

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had been removed, as if by magic, and a splendid

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chandelier appeared suspended over his head. Throngs of ladies, richly

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dressed but without death had masks stood round, and a

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due proportion of gay cavaliers was mingled with them. Music

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was still sounding, but it was seen to proceed from

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a band of mortal musicians stationed in an orchestra near

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at hand. The air was yet releolent of incense, but

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it was incense unblended with stench. Mon Dieu, cried the Emperor.

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How is all this come about? Where in the world

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is peach? Peach replied the Empress. What does your majesty mean?

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Had you not better leave the apartment and retire to rest?

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Leave the apartment? Why where am I in my private

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drawing room, surrounded by a few particular persons of the court,

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whom I had invited this evening to a ball. You

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entered a few minutes cents in your night dress, with

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your eyes fixed and wide open. I suppose from this

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astonishment you now testify that you are walking in your sleep.

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The Emperor immediately fell into a fit of catalepsy, in

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which he continued during the whole of that night and

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the greater part of the next day. End of Napoleon

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and the Specter