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Jeanne； who has the fingers of a magician and the soul of an angel。〃
〃And is this delightfully gifted young lady one of your family？〃 I
asked。
〃Not at all；〃 replied Monsieur Paul。
〃Then she is just a friend of yours？〃 I persisted； rather stupidly。
〃She has lost both her father and mother；〃 answered Monsieur de
Gabry； keeping his eyes fixed upon the ears of his horse； whose hoofs rang
loudly over the road blue…tinted by the moonshine。 〃Her father managed to
get us into some very serious trouble； and we did not get off with a fright
either！〃
Then he shook his head； and changed the subject。 He gave me due
warning of the ruinous condition in which I should find the chateau and
the park； they had been absolutely deserted for thirty…two years。
I learned from him that Monsieur Honore de Gabry； his uncle； had
been on very bad terms with some poachers； whom he used to shoot at like
rabbits。 One of them； a vindictive peasant； who had received a whole
charge of shot in his face； lay in wait for the Seigneur one evening behind
the trees of the mall； and very nearly succeeded in killing him； for the ball
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took off the tip of his ear。
〃My uncle；〃 Monsieur Paul continued； 〃tried to discover who had fired
the shot； but he could not see any one； and he walked back slowly to the
house。 The day after he called his steward and ordered him to close up the
manor and the park； and allow no living soul to enter。 He expressly
forbade that anything should be touched； or looked after； or any repairs
made on the estate during his absence。 He added； between his teeth； that
he would return at Easter； or Trinity Sunday； as they say in the song； and；
just as the song has it； Trinity Sunday passed without a sign of him。 He
died last year at Monaco； my brother…in…law and myself were the first to
enter the chateau after it had been abandoned for thirty…two years。 We
found a chestnut…tree growing in the middle of the parlour。 As for the park；
it was useless trying to visit it； because there were no longer any paths or
alleys。〃
My companion ceased to speak； and only the regular hoof…beat of the
trotting horse； and the chirping of insects in the grass； broke the silence。
On either hand； the sheaves standing in the fields took； in the vague
moonlight； the appearance of tall white women kneeling down； and I
abandoned myself awhile to those wonderful childish fancies which the
charm of night always suggests。 After driving under the heavy shadows of
the mall； we turned to the right and rolled up a lordly avenue at the end of
which the chateau suddenly rose into viewa black mass； with turrets en
poivriere。 We followed a sort of causeway； which gave access to the court…
of…honor； and which； passing over a moat full of running water； doubtless
replaced a long…vanished drawbridge。 The loss of that draw…bridge must
have been； I think； the first of various humiliations to which the warlike
manor had been subjected ere being reduced to that pacific aspect with
which it received me。 The stars reflected themselves with marvelous
clearness in the dark water。 Monsieur Paul； like a courteous host； escorted
me to my chamber at the very top of the building； at the end of a long
corridor； and then； excusing himself for not presenting me at once to his
wife by reason of the lateness of the hour； bade me good…night。
My apartment； painted in white and hung with chintz； seemed to keep
some traces of the elegant gallantry of the eighteenth century。 A heap of
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still…glowing asheswhich testified to the pains taken to dispel humidity
filled the fireplace； whose marble mantlepiece supported a bust of Marie
Antoinette in bisuit。 Attached to the frame of the tarnished and discoloured
mirror； two brass hooks； that had once doubtless served the ladies of old…
fashioned days to hang their chatelaines on； seemed to offer a very
opportune means of suspending my watch； which I took care to wind up
beforehand； for； contrary to the opinion of the Thelemites； I hold that man
is only master of time； which is Life itself； when he has divided it into
hours； minutes and secondsthat is to say； into parts proportioned to the
brevity of human existence。
And I thought to myself that life really seems short to us only because
we measure it irrationally by our own mad hopes。 We have all of us； like
the old man in the fable； a new wing to add to our building。 I want； for
example； before I die； to finish my 〃History of the Abbots of Saint…
Germain…de…Pres。〃 The time God allots to each one of us is like a precious
tissue which we embroider as we best know how。 I had begun my woof
with all sorts of philological illustrations。。。。 So my thoughts wandered on；
and at last； as I bound my foulard about my head； the notion of Time led
me back to the past； and for the second time within the same round of the
dial I thought of you； Clementineto bless you again in your prosperity； if
you have any； before blowing out my candle and falling asleep amid the
chanting of the frogs。
Chapter II
During breakfast I had many opportunities to appreciate the good
taste； tact； and intelligence of Madame de Gabry； who told me that the
chateau had its ghosts； and was especially haunted by the 〃Lady… with…
three…wrinkles…in…her…back；〃 a prisoner during her lifetime； and thereafter
a Soul…in…pain。 I could never describe how much wit and animation she
gave to this old nurse's tale。 We took out； coffee on the terrace； whose
balusters； clasped and forcibly torn away from their stone coping by a
vigorous growth of ivy； remained suspended in the grasp of the amorous
plant like bewildered Athenian women in the arms of ravishing Centaurs。
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The chateau； shaped something like a four…wheeled wagon； with a
turret at each of the four angles； had lost all original character by reason of
repeated remodellings。 It was merely a f