anner.bloodandgold(v2)-µÚ90½Ú
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡28
¡¡¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡AS¡¡I¡¡LOOK¡¡BACK¡¡NOW£»¡¡I¡¡have¡¡no¡¡doubt¡¡that¡¡Akasha¡¡turned¡¡me¡¡away¡¡from¡¡the¡¡rescue¡¡of¡¡Amadeo£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡I¡¡consider¡¡all¡¡that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡revealed¡¡here¡¡I¡¡have¡¡no¡¡doubt¡¡of¡¡her¡¡intervention¡¡in¡¡my¡¡life¡¡at¡¡other¡¡periods¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Had¡¡I¡¡attempted¡¡to¡¡go¡¡South¡¡to¡¡Rome£»¡¡I¡¡would¡¡have¡¡fallen¡¡into¡¡Santino's¡¡hands¡¡and¡¡met¡¡with¡¡destruction¡£¡¡And¡¡what¡¡better¡¡lure¡¡was¡¡there¡¡than¡¡the¡¡promise¡¡that¡¡I¡¡might¡¡soon¡¡meet¡¡with¡¡Pandora£¿
¡¡¡¡¡¡Of¡¡course¡¡my¡¡encounter¡¡with¡¡Raymond¡¡Gallant¡¡was¡¡quite¡¡real£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡details¡¡of¡¡this¡¡were¡¡vivid¡¡within¡¡my¡¡mind£»¡¡and¡¡Akasha¡¡no¡¡doubt¡¡subtracted¡¡these¡¡details¡¡by¡¡virtue¡¡of¡¡her¡¡immense¡¡power¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡description¡¡of¡¡Pandora¡¡which¡¡I¡¡had¡¡confided¡¡to¡¡Bianca¡¡was¡¡also¡¡quite¡¡real£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡too¡¡might¡¡have¡¡been¡¡known¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Queen¡¡had¡¡she¡¡opened¡¡her¡¡ears¡¡to¡¡listen¡¡to¡¡my¡¡distant¡¡prayers¡¡from¡¡Venice¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Whatever¡¡the¡¡case£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡night¡¡we¡¡arrived¡¡at¡¡the¡¡shrine¡¡I¡¡was¡¡set¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡course¡¡of¡¡recovery¡¡and¡¡of¡¡a¡¡search¡¡for¡¡Pandora¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡If¡¡anyone¡¡had¡¡told¡¡me¡¡that¡¡both¡¡would¡¡take¡¡some¡¡two¡¡hundred¡¡years£»¡¡I¡¡might¡¡have¡¡met¡¡with¡¡despair£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡know¡¡this¡£¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡only¡¡that¡¡I¡¡was¡¡safe¡¡within¡¡the¡¡shrine£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡had¡¡Akasha¡¡to¡¡protect¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡Bianca¡¡to¡¡content¡¡me¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡For¡¡well¡¡over¡¡a¡¡year¡¡I¡¡drank¡¡from¡¡the¡¡fount¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Mother¡£¡¡And¡¡for¡¡six¡¡months¡¡of¡¡this¡¡time£»¡¡I¡¡fed¡¡my¡¡powerful¡¡blood¡¡to¡¡Bianca¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡During¡¡those¡¡nights£»¡¡when¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡open¡¡the¡¡stone¡¡door£»¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡myself¡¡grow¡¡more¡¡robust¡¡in¡¡appearance¡¡with¡¡each¡¡divine¡¡feast£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡spent¡¡the¡¡long¡¡hours¡¡talking¡¡in¡¡respectful¡¡whispers¡¡with¡¡Bianca¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡We¡¡took¡¡to¡¡conserving¡¡the¡¡oil¡¡for¡¡the¡¡lamps£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡fine¡¡candles¡¡which¡¡I¡¡had¡¡stored¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡Divine¡¡Parents£»¡¡for¡¡we¡¡had¡¡no¡¡inkling¡¡of¡¡how¡¡long¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡before¡¡I¡¡could¡¡open¡¡the¡¡door¡¡and¡¡take¡¡us¡¡to¡¡hunting¡¡in¡¡the¡¡distant¡¡Alpine¡¡towns¡¡or¡¡cities¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡At¡¡last¡¡there¡¡came¡¡a¡¡night¡¡when¡¡it¡¡occurred¡¡to¡¡me¡¡most¡¡strongly¡¡to¡¡venture¡¡out£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡was¡¡clever¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡know¡¡that¡¡this¡¡thought¡¡had¡¡not¡¡e¡¡to¡¡me¡¡at¡¡random¡£¡¡It¡¡had¡¡been¡¡suggested¡¡to¡¡me¡¡by¡¡a¡¡series¡¡of¡¡images¡£¡¡I¡¡could¡¡open¡¡the¡¡door¡¡now¡£¡¡I¡¡could¡¡go¡¡out¡£¡¡And¡¡I¡¡could¡¡take¡¡Bianca¡¡with¡¡me¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡As¡¡for¡¡my¡¡appearance¡¡to¡¡the¡¡mortal¡¡world£»¡¡my¡¡skin¡¡was¡¡coal¡¡black£»¡¡and¡¡heavily¡¡scarred¡¡in¡¡places¡¡as¡¡though¡¡from¡¡the¡¡stroking¡¡of¡¡a¡¡hot¡¡poker¡£¡¡But¡¡the¡¡face¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡in¡¡Bianca's¡¡mirror¡¡was¡¡fully¡¡formed£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡serene¡¡expression¡¡that¡¡has¡¡always¡¡been¡¡so¡¡familiar¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¡And¡¡my¡¡body¡¡was¡¡strong¡¡once¡¡more£»¡¡and¡¡my¡¡hands¡¡of¡¡which¡¡I¡¡am¡¡so¡¡vain¡¡were¡¡a¡¡scholar's¡¡hands¡¡with¡¡long¡¡deft¡¡fingers¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡For¡¡another¡¡year£»¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡dare¡¡to¡¡send¡¡to¡¡Raymond¡¡Gallant¡¡a¡¡letter¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Carrying¡¡Bianca¡¡with¡¡me¡¡to¡¡far¡flung¡¡towns£»¡¡I¡¡searched¡¡hastily¡¡and¡¡clumsily¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Evil¡¡Doer¡£¡¡As¡¡such¡¡creatures¡¡often¡¡run¡¡in¡¡packs£»¡¡we¡¡would¡¡enjoy¡¡a¡¡gluttonous¡¡feast£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡I¡¡would¡¡take¡¡such¡¡clothes¡¡and¡¡gold¡¡as¡¡needed¡¡from¡¡the¡¡dead£»¡¡and¡¡off¡¡we¡¡would¡¡go¡¡to¡¡the¡¡shrine¡¡well¡¡before¡¡daylight¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡think¡¡when¡¡I¡¡look¡¡back¡¡on¡¡it¡¡that¡¡ten¡¡years¡¡at¡¡least¡¡went¡¡by¡¡in¡¡this¡¡fashion¡£¡¡But¡¡time¡¡is¡¡so¡¡strange¡¡with¡¡us£»¡¡how¡¡can¡¡I¡¡be¡¡certain£¿
¡¡¡¡¡¡What¡¡I¡¡remember¡¡was¡¡that¡¡a¡¡powerful¡¡bond¡¡existed¡¡between¡¡me¡¡and¡¡Bianca¡¡that¡¡seemed¡¡absolutely¡¡unshakable¡£¡¡As¡¡the¡¡years¡¡passed£»¡¡she¡¡was¡¡as¡¡much¡¡my¡¡panion¡¡in¡¡silence¡¡as¡¡she¡¡had¡¡ever¡¡been¡¡in¡¡conversation¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡We¡¡moved¡¡as¡¡one£»¡¡without¡¡argument¡¡or¡¡consultation¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡was¡¡a¡¡proud¡¡and¡¡merciless¡¡hunter£»¡¡dedicated¡¡to¡¡the¡¡majesty¡¡of¡¡Those¡¡Who¡¡Must¡¡Be¡¡Kept£»¡¡and¡¡always¡¡drank¡¡from¡¡more¡¡than¡¡one¡¡human¡¡victim¡¡whenever¡¡possible¡£¡¡Indeed£»¡¡there¡¡seemed¡¡no¡¡limit¡¡to¡¡the¡¡blood¡¡she¡¡could¡¡imbibe¡£¡¡She¡¡wanted¡¡strength£»¡¡both¡¡from¡¡me¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Evil¡¡Doer¡¡whom¡¡she¡¡took¡¡with¡¡righteous¡¡coldness¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Riding¡¡the¡¡winds¡¡in¡¡my¡¡arms£»¡¡she¡¡turned¡¡her¡¡eyes¡¡to¡¡the¡¡stars¡¡fearlessly¡£¡¡And¡¡often¡¡she¡¡spoke¡¡to¡¡me¡¡softly¡¡and¡¡easily¡¡of¡¡her¡¡mortal¡¡life¡¡in¡¡Florence£»¡¡telling¡¡me¡¡the¡¡stories¡¡of¡¡her¡¡youth£»¡¡and¡¡of¡¡how¡¡she¡¡had¡¡loved¡¡her¡¡brothers¡¡who¡¡had¡¡so¡¡admired¡¡Lorenzo¡¡the¡¡Magnificent¡£¡¡Yes£»¡¡she¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡my¡¡beloved¡¡Botticelli¡¡many¡¡a¡¡time¡¡and¡¡told¡¡me¡¡in¡¡detail¡¡of¡¡paintings¡¡which¡¡I¡¡had¡¡not¡¡seen¡£¡¡She¡¡sang¡¡songs¡¡to¡¡me¡¡now¡¡and¡¡then¡¡which¡¡she¡¡posed¡¡herself¡£¡¡She¡¡spoke¡¡in¡¡sadness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡death¡¡of¡¡her¡¡brothers¡¡and¡¡how¡¡she¡¡had¡¡fallen¡¡into¡¡the¡¡power¡¡of¡¡her¡¡evil¡¡kinsmen¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡loved¡¡listening¡¡to¡¡her¡¡as¡¡much¡¡as¡¡I¡¡loved¡¡talking¡¡to¡¡her¡£¡¡Indeed£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡so¡¡fluid¡¡between¡¡us¡¡that¡¡I¡¡still¡¡wonder¡¡at¡¡it¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡though¡¡on¡¡many¡¡a¡¡morn£»¡¡she¡¡bed¡¡out¡¡her¡¡lovely¡¡hair¡¡and¡¡replaited¡¡it¡¡with¡¡her¡¡ropes¡¡of¡¡tiny¡¡pearls£»¡¡she¡¡never¡¡plained¡¡of¡¡our¡¡lot£»¡¡and¡¡wore¡¡the¡¡cast¡off¡¡tunics¡¡and¡¡cloaks¡¡of¡¡the¡¡men¡¡we¡¡slew¡¡as¡¡I¡¡did¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Now¡¡and¡¡then£»¡¡slipping¡¡discreetly¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡King¡¡and¡¡Queen£»¡¡she¡¡took¡¡from¡¡her¡¡precious¡¡bundle¡¡a¡¡gorgeous¡¡gown¡¡of¡¡silk¡¡and¡¡clothed¡¡herself¡¡with¡¡care¡¡in¡¡it£»¡¡this¡¡to¡¡sleep¡¡in¡¡my¡¡arms£»¡¡after¡¡I¡¡had¡¡covered¡¡her¡¡with¡¡warm¡¡pliments¡¡and¡¡kisses¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Never¡¡had¡¡I¡¡known¡¡such¡¡peace¡¡with¡¡Pandora¡£¡¡Never¡¡had¡¡I¡¡known¡¡such¡¡warm¡¡simplicity¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Yet¡¡it¡¡was¡¡Pandora¡¡who¡¡filled¡¡my¡¡mind¡Pandora¡¡traveling¡¡the¡¡cities¡¡of¡¡the¡¡North£»¡¡Pandora¡¡with¡¡her¡¡Asian¡¡panion¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡At¡¡last¡¡there¡¡came¡¡an¡¡evening¡¡when£»¡¡after¡¡a¡¡furious¡¡hunt£»¡¡in¡¡exhaustion¡¡and¡¡satiation£»¡¡Bianca¡¡asked¡¡to¡¡be¡¡returned¡¡early¡¡to¡¡the¡¡shrine£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡found¡¡myself¡¡in¡¡possession¡¡of¡¡a¡¡priceless¡¡three¡¡hours¡¡before¡¡dawn¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡also¡¡found¡¡myself¡¡in¡¡possession¡¡of¡¡a¡¡new¡¡measure¡¡of¡¡strength¡¡which¡¡I¡¡had¡¡perhaps¡¡unwittingly¡¡concealed¡¡from¡¡her¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡To¡¡a¡¡distant¡¡Alpine¡¡monastery¡¡I¡¡went£»¡¡one¡¡which¡¡had¡¡suffered¡¡much¡¡due¡¡to¡¡the¡¡recent¡¡rise¡¡of¡¡what¡¡scholars¡¡call¡¡the¡¡Protestant¡¡Reformation¡£¡¡Here¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡I¡¡would¡¡find¡¡frightened¡¡monks¡¡who¡¡would¡¡take¡¡my¡¡gold¡¡and¡¡assist¡¡me¡¡in¡¡sending¡¡a¡¡letter¡¡to¡¡England¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Entering¡¡the¡¡empty¡¡chapel¡¡first£»¡¡I¡¡gathered¡¡up¡¡every¡¡good¡¡beeswax¡¡candle¡¡in¡¡the¡¡place£»¡¡these¡¡to¡¡replenish¡¡those¡¡of¡¡the¡¡shrine£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡put¡¡all¡¡of¡¡the¡¡candles¡¡into¡¡a¡¡sack¡¡which¡¡I¡¡had¡¡brought¡¡with¡¡me¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡then¡¡went¡¡to¡¡the¡¡scriptorium¡¡where¡¡I¡¡found¡¡an¡¡old¡¡monk¡¡who¡¡was¡¡writing¡¡very¡¡fast¡¡by¡¡his¡¡single¡¡candle¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡he¡¡found¡¡me¡¡standing¡¡in¡¡his¡¡presence¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Yes£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡¡at¡¡once£»¡¡speaking¡¡his¡¡German¡¡dialect¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡am¡¡a¡¡strange¡¡man¡¡e¡¡to¡¡you¡¡in¡¡a¡¡strange¡¡way£»¡¡but¡¡believe¡¡me¡¡when¡¡I¡¡say¡¡that¡¡I¡¡am¡¡not¡¡evil¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡gray¡haired£»¡¡tonsured£»¡¡and¡¡wore¡¡brown¡¡robes£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡was¡¡a¡¡bit¡¡cold¡¡in¡¡the¡¡empty¡¡scriptorium¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡utterly¡¡fearless¡¡as¡¡he¡¡gazed¡¡at¡¡me¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡I¡¡told¡¡myself¡¡that¡¡I¡¡had¡¡never¡¡looked¡¡more¡¡human¡£¡¡My¡¡skin¡¡was¡¡as¡¡black¡¡as¡¡that¡¡of¡¡a¡¡Moor¡¡and¡¡I¡¡wore¡¡the¡¡rather¡¡drab¡¡gray¡¡garments¡¡which¡¡I¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡from¡¡some¡¡doomed¡¡miscreant¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Now¡¡as¡¡he¡¡continued¡¡to¡¡stare£»¡¡quite¡¡obviously¡¡not¡¡in¡¡any¡¡mood¡¡to¡¡sound¡¡a¡¡general¡¡alarm£»¡¡I¡¡did¡¡my¡¡old¡¡trick¡¡of¡¡placing¡¡before¡¡him¡¡a¡¡purse¡¡of¡¡gold¡¡coins¡¡for¡¡the¡¡good¡¡of¡¡the¡¡monastery¡¡which¡¡needed¡¡it¡¡badly¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡must¡¡write¡¡a¡¡letter£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡see¡¡that¡¡it¡¡reaches¡¡a¡¡place¡¡in¡¡England¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨A¡¡Catholic¡¡place£¿¡¨¡¡he¡¡asked¡¡as¡¡he¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡me£»¡¡his¡¡gray¡¡eyebrows¡¡thick¡¡and¡¡arched¡¡as¡¡he¡¡raised¡¡them¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡should¡¡think¡¡so£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡¡with¡¡a¡¡shrug¡£¡¡Of¡¡course¡¡I¡¡couldn't¡¡describe¡¡to¡¡him¡¡the¡¡secular¡¡nature¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Talamasca¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Then¡¡think¡¡again£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨For¡¡England¡¡is¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡Catholic¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡on¡¡earth¡¡do¡¡you¡¡mean£¿¡¨¡¡I¡¡asked¡£¡¡¡¨Surely¡¡the¡¡Reformation¡¡has¡¡not¡¡reached¡¡such¡¡a¡¡place¡¡as¡¡England¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡laughed¡£¡¡¡¨No£»¡¡not¡¡the¡¡Reformation¡¡precisely£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨Rather¡¡the¡¡vanity¡¡of¡¡a¡¡King¡¡who¡¡would¡¡divorce¡¡his¡¡Spanish¡¡Catholic¡¡wife£»¡¡and¡¡who¡¡has¡¡denied¡¡the¡¡power¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Pope¡¡to¡¡rule¡¡against¡¡him¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡was¡¡so¡¡dejected¡¡that¡¡I¡¡sat¡¡down¡¡on¡¡a¡¡nearby¡¡bench¡¡though¡¡I'd¡¡been¡¡given¡¡no¡¡invitation¡¡to¡¡do¡¡it¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡are¡¡you£¿¡¨¡¡asked¡¡the¡¡old¡¡monk¡£¡¡He¡¡laid¡¡down¡¡his¡¡quill¡¡pen¡£¡¡He¡¡stared¡¡at¡¡me¡¡in¡¡the¡¡most¡¡thoughtful¡¡manner¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨It's¡¡no¡¡matter£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡¡wearily¡£¡¡¡¨Do¡¡you¡¡think¡¡there's¡¡no¡¡chance¡¡that¡¡a¡¡letter¡¡from¡¡here¡¡could¡¡reach¡¡a¡¡castle¡¡called¡¡Lorwich¡¡in¡¡East¡¡Anglia£¿¡¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡don't¡¡know£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡monk¡£¡¡¡¨It¡¡might¡¡well¡¡happen¡£¡¡For¡¡there¡¡are¡¡some¡¡who¡¡oppose¡¡King¡¡Henry¡¡VIII¡¡and¡¡others¡¡who¡¡do¡¡not¡£¡¡But¡¡in¡¡general¡¡he¡¡has¡¡destroyed¡¡the¡¡monasteries¡¡of¡¡England¡£¡¡And¡¡so¡¡any¡¡letter¡¡you¡¡write¡¡from¡¡me¡¡cannot¡¡go¡¡to¡¡one¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡only¡¡directly¡¡to¡¡the¡¡castle¡£¡¡And¡¡how¡¡is¡¡that¡¡to¡¡happen£¿¡¡We¡¡have¡¡to¡¡think¡¡on¡¡it¡£¡¡I¡¡can¡¡always¡¡attempt¡¡it¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Yes£»¡¡please£»¡¡let¡¡us¡¡attempt¡¡it¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡first£»¡¡tell¡¡me¡¡what¡¡you¡¡are£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡asked¡¡again¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡won't¡¡write¡¡the¡¡letter¡¡for¡¡you¡¡unless¡¡you¡¡do¡¡so¡£¡¡Also¡¡I¡¡want¡¡to¡¡know¡¡why¡¡you¡¡stole¡¡all¡¡the¡¡good¡¡candles¡¡in¡¡the¡¡chapel¡¡and¡¡left¡¡the¡¡bad¡¡ones¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡know¡¡I¡¡did¡¡this£¿¡¨¡¡I¡¡asked¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡being¡¡extremely¡¡agitated¡£¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡I¡¡had¡¡been¡¡silent¡¡as¡¡a¡¡mouse¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I'm¡¡not¡¡an¡¡ordinary¡¡man£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡hear¡¡things¡¡and¡¡see¡¡things¡¡that¡¡people¡¡don't¡£¡¡I¡¡know¡¡you're¡¡not¡¡human¡£¡¡What¡¡are¡¡you£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡can't¡¡tell¡¡you£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨Tell¡¡me¡¡what¡¡you¡¡think¡¡I¡¡am¡£¡¡Tell¡¡me¡¡if¡¡you¡¡can¡¡find¡¡any¡¡true¡¡evil¡¡in¡¡my¡¡heart¡£¡¡Tell¡¡me¡¡what¡¡you¡¡see¡¡in¡¡me¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡gazed¡¡at¡¡me¡¡for¡¡a¡¡long¡¡time¡£¡¡His¡¡eyes¡¡were¡¡deeply¡¡gray£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡I¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡his¡¡elderly¡¡face¡¡I¡¡could¡¡easily¡¡reconstruct¡¡the¡¡young¡¡man¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been£»¡¡rather¡¡resolute£»¡¡though¡¡his¡¡personal¡¡strength¡¡of¡¡character¡¡was¡¡far¡¡greater¡¡now¡¡even¡¡though¡¡he¡¡suffered¡¡human¡¡infirmity¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡At¡¡last¡¡he¡¡turned¡¡away¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡his¡¡candle¡¡as¡¡though¡¡he¡¡had¡¡pleted¡¡his¡¡examination¡¡of¡¡me¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡am¡¡a¡¡reader¡¡of¡¡strange¡¡books£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡¡in¡¡a¡¡hushed¡¡but¡¡clear¡¡voice¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡have¡¡studied¡¡some¡¡of¡¡those¡¡texts¡¡which¡¡have¡¡e¡¡out¡¡of¡¡Italy¡¡pertaining¡¡to¡¡magic¡¡and¡¡astrology¡¡and¡¡things¡¡which¡¡are¡¡often¡¡called¡¡forbidden¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡My¡¡pulse¡¡quickened¡£¡¡This¡¡seemed¡¡extraordinary¡¡good¡¡fortune¡£¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡interrupt¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡have¡¡a¡¡belief¡¡that¡¡there¡¡are¡¡angels¡¡c