little novels-第62节

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She　smiled　fondly　as　she　looked　at　the　sleeping　man。　〃Draw　your　chair　nearer　to　him；〃　she　resumed；　〃and　take　his　hand。　You　may　speak　freely　in　making　your　inquiries。　Nothing　that　happens　in　this　room　goes　out　of　it。〃

With　those　words　she　returned　to　her　place；　in　the　corner　behind　her　son's　chair。

The　visitor　took　Doctor　Lagarde's　hand。　As　they　touched　each　other；　he　was　conscious　of　a　faintly…titillating　sensation　in　his　own　handa　sensation　which　oddly　reminded　him　of　bygone　experiments　with　an　electrical　machine；　in　the　days　when　he　was　a　boy　at　school！

〃I　wish　to　question　you　about　my　future　life；〃　he　began。　〃How　ought　I　to　begin？〃

The　Doctor　spoke　his　first　words　in　the　monotonous　tones　of　a　man　talking　in　his　sleep。

〃Own　your　true　motive　before　you　begin；〃　he　said。　〃Your　interest　in　your　future　life　is　centered　in　a　woman。　You　wish　to　know　if　her　heart　will　be　yours　in　the　time　that　is　to　comeand　there　your　interest　in　your　future　life　ends。〃

This　startling　proof　of　the　sleeper's　capacity　to　look；　by　sympathy；　into　his　mind；　and　to　see　there　his　most　secret　thoughts；　instead　of　convincing　the　stranger；　excited　his　suspicions。　〃You　have　means　of　getting　information；〃　he　said；　〃that　I　don't　understand。〃

The　Doctor　smiled；　as　if　the　idea　amused　him。

Madame　Lagarde　rose　from　her　seat　and　interposed。

〃Hundreds　of　strangers　come　here　to　consult　my　son；〃　she　said　quietly。　〃If　you　believe　that　we　know　who　those　strangers　are；　and　that　we　have　the　means　of　inquiring　into　their　private　lives　before　they　enter　this　room；　you　believe　in　something　much　more　incredible　than　the　magnetic　sleep！〃

This　was　too　manifestly　true　to　be　disputed。　The　visitor　made　his　apologies。

〃I　should　like　to　have　_some_　explanation；〃　he　added。　〃The　thing　is　so　very　extraordinary。　How　can　I　prevail　upon　Doctor　Lagarde　to　enlighten　me？〃

〃He　can　only　tell　you　what　he　sees；〃　Madame　Lagarde　answered；　〃ask　him　that；　and　you　will　get　a　direct　reply。　Say　to　him：　'Do　you　see　the　lady？'　〃

The　stranger　repeated　the　question。　The　reply　followed　at　once；　in　these　words：

〃I　see　two　figures　standing　side　by　side。　One　of　them　is　your　figure。　The　other　is　the　figure　of　a　lady。　She　only　appears　dimly。　I　can　discover　nothing　but　that　she　is　taller　than　women　generally　are；　and　that　she　is　dressed　in　pale　blue。〃

The　man　to　whom　he　was　speaking　started　at　those　last　words。　〃Her　favorite　color！〃　he　thought　to　himselfforgetting　that；　while　he　held　the　Doctor's　hand；　the　Doctor　could　think　with　_his_　mind。

〃Yes；〃　added　the　sleeper　quietly；　〃her　favorite　color；　as　you　know。　She　fades　and　fades　as　I　look　at　her；〃　he　went　on。　〃She　is　gone。　I　only　see　_you_；　under　a　new　aspect。　You　have　a　pistol　in　your　hand。　Opposite　to　you；　there　stands　the　figure　of　another　man。　He；　too；　has　a　pistol　in　his　hand。　Are　you　enemies？　Are　you　meeting　to　fight　a　duel？　Is　the　lady　the　cause？　I　try；　but　I　fail　to　see　her。〃

〃Can　you　describe　the　man？〃

〃Not　yet。　So　far；　he　is　only　a　shadow　in　the　form　of　a　man。〃

There　was　another　interval。　An　appearance　of　disturbance　showed　itself　on　the　sleeper's　face。　Suddenly；　he　waved　his　free　hand　in　the　direction　of　the　waiting…room。

〃Send　for　the　visitors　who　are　there；〃　he　said。　〃They　are　all　to　come　in。　Each　one　of　them　is　to　take　one　of　my　hands　in　turnwhile　you　remain　where　you　are；　holding　the　other　hand。　Don't　let　go　of　me；　even　for　a　moment。　My　mother　will　ring。〃

Madame　Lagarde　touched　a　bell　on　the　table。　The　servant　received　his　orders　from　her　and　retired。　After　a　short　absence；　he　appeared　again　in　the　consulting…room；　with　one　visitor　only　waiting　on　the　threshold　behind　him。

CHAPTER　IV。

THE　MAN。

〃The　other　three　gentlemen　have　gone　away；　madam；〃　the　servant　explained；　addressing　Madame　Lagarde。　〃They　were　tired　of　waiting。　I　found　_this_　gentleman　fast　asleep；　and　I　am　afraid　he　is　angry　with　me　for　taking　the　liberty　of　waking　him。〃

〃Sleep　of　the　common　sort　is　evidently　not　allowed　in　this　house。〃　With　that　remark　the　gentleman　entered　the　room；　and　stood　revealed　as　the　original　owner　of　the　card　numbered　Fourteen。

Viewed　by　the　clear　lamplight；　he　was　a　tall；　finely…made　man；　in　the　prime　of　life；　with　a　florid　complexion；　golden…brown　hair；　and　sparkling　blue　eyes。　Noticing　Madame　Lagarde；　he　instantly　checked　the　flow　of　his　satire；　with　the　instinctive　good…breeding　of　a　gentleman。　〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　he　said；　〃I　have　a　great　many　faults；　and　a　habit　of　making　bad　jokes　is　one　of　them。　Is　the　servant　right；　madam；　in　telling　me　that　I　have　the　honor　of　presenting　myself　here　at　your　request？〃

Madame　Lagarde　briefly　explained　what　had　passed。

The　florid　gentleman　（still　privately　believing　it　to　be　all　〃humbug〃）　was　delighted　to　make　himself　of　any　use。　〃I　congratulate　you；　sir；〃　he　said；　with　his　easy　humor；　as　he　passed　the　visitor　who　had　become　possessed　of　his　card。　〃Number　Fourteen　seems　to　be　a　luckier　number　in　your　keeping　than　it　was　in　mine。〃

As　he　spoke；　he　took　Doctor　Lagarde's　disengaged　hand。　The　instant　they　touched　each　other　the　sleeper　started。　His　voice　rose；　his　face　flushed。　〃You　are　the　man！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃I　see　you　plainly　now！〃

〃What　am　I　doing？〃

〃You　are　standing　opposite　to　the　gentleman　here　who　is　holding　my　other　hand；　and　（as　I　have　said　already）　you　have　met　to　fight　a　duel。〃

The　unbeliever　cast　a　shrewd　look　at　his　companion　in　the　consultation。

〃Considering　that　you　and　I　are　total　strangers；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃don't　you　think　the　Doctor　had　better　introduce　us；　before　he　goes　any　further？　We　have　got　to　fighting　a　duel　already；　and　we　may　as　well　know　who　we　are；　before　the　pistols　go　off。〃　He　turned　to　Doctor　Lagarde。　〃Dramatic　situations　don't　amuse　me　out　of　the　theater；〃　he　resumed。　〃Let　me　put　you　to　a　very　commonplace　test。　I　want　to　be　introduced　to　this　gentleman。　Has　he　told　you　his　name？〃

〃No。〃

〃Of　course；　you　know　it；　without　being　told？〃

〃Certainly。　I　have　only　to　look　into　your　own　knowledge　of　yourselves；　while　I　am　in　this　trance；　and　while　you　have　got　my　hands；　to　know　both　your　names　as　well　as　you　do。〃

〃Introduce　us；　then！　〃　retorted　the　jesting　gentleman。　〃And　take　my　name　first。〃

〃Mr。　Percy　Linwood；〃　replied　the　Doctor；　〃I　have　the　honor　of　presenting　you　to　Captain　Bervie；　of　the　Artillery。〃

With　one　accord；　the　gentlemen　both　dropped　Doctor　Lagarde's　hands；　and　looked　at　each　other　in　blank　amazement。

〃Of　course　he　has　discovered　our　names　somehow！〃　said　Mr。　Percy　Linwood；　explaining　the　mystery　to　his　own　perfect　satisfaction　in　that　way。

Captain　Bervie　had　not　forgotten　what　Madame　Lagarde　had　said　to　him；　when　he　too　had　suspected　a　trick。　He　now　repeated　it　（quite　ineffectually）　for　Mr。　Linwood's　benefit。　〃If　you　don't　feel　the　force　of　that　argument　as　I　feel　it；〃　he　added；　〃perhaps；　as　a　favor　to　me；　sir；　you　will　not　object　to　our　each　taking　the　Doctor's　hand　again；　and　hearing　what　more　he　can　tell　us　while　he　remains　in　the　state　of　trance？〃

〃With　the　greatest　pleasure！〃　answered　good…humored　Mr。　Linwood。　〃Our　friend　is　beginning　to　amuse　me；　I　am　as　anxious　as　you　are　to　know　what　he　is　going　to　see　next。〃

Captain　Bervie　put　the　next　question。

〃You　have　seen　us　ready　to　fight　a　duelcan　you　tell　us　the　result？〃

〃I　can　tell　you　nothing　more　than　I　have　told　you　already。　The　figures　of　the　duelists　have　faded　away；　like　the　other　figures　I　saw　before　them。　What　I　see　now　looks　like　the　winding　gravel…path　of　a　garden。　A　man　and　a　woman　are　walking　toward　me。　The　man　stops；　and　places　a　ring　on　the　woman's　finger；　and　kisses　her。〃

Captain　Bervie　opened　his　lips　to　continue　his　inquiriesturned　paleand　checked　himself。　Mr。　Linwood　put　the　next　question。

〃Who　is　the　happy　man？〃　he　asked。

〃_You_　are　the　happy　man；〃　was　the　instantaneous　reply。

〃Who　is　the　woman？〃　cried　Captain　Bervie；　before　Mr。　Linwood　could　speak　again。

〃The　same　woman　whom　I　saw　before；　dressed　in　the　same　color；　in　pale　blue。〃

Captain　Bervie　positively　insisted　on　receiving　clearer　information　than　this。　〃Surely　you　can　see　_something_　of　her　personal　appearance？〃　he　said。

〃I　can　see　that　she　has　long　dark…brown　hair；　falling　below　her　waist。　I　can　see　that　she　has　lovely　dark…brown　eyes。　She　has　the　look　of　a　sensitive　nervous　person。　She　is　quite　young。　I　can　see　no　more。〃

〃Look　again　at　the　man　who　is　putting　the　ring　on　her　finger；〃　said　the　Captain。　〃Are　you　sure　that　the　face　you　see　is　the　face　of　Mr。　Percy　Linwood？〃

〃I　am　absolutely　sure。〃

Captain　Bervie　rose　from　his　chair。

〃Thank　you；　madam；〃　he　said　to　the　Doctor's　mother。　〃I　have　heard　enough。〃

He　walked　to　the　door。　Mr。　Percy　Linwood　dropped　Doctor　Lagarde's　hand；　and　appealed　to　the　retiring　Captain　with　a　broad　stare　of　astonishment。

〃You　don't　really　believe　this？〃　he　said。

〃I　only　say　I　have　heard　enough；〃　Captain　Bervie　answered。

Mr。　Linwood　could　hardly　fail　to　see　that　any　further　attempt　to　treat　the　matter　lightly　might　lead　to　undesirable　results。

〃It　is　difficult　to　speak　seriously　of　this　kind　of　exhibition；〃　he　resumed　quietly。　〃But　I　suppose　I　may　mention　a　mere　matter　of　fact；　without　meaning　or　giving　offense。　The　description　of　the　lady；　I　can　positively　declare；　does