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failed to counteract the monotonous repetition of this sentence。
There was nothing to do but to give inand I was about to accept
it weakly； as we too often treat other illusions of darkness and
necessity； for the time being； when I became aware of some other
annoyance that had been forcing itself upon me for the last few
moments。 How quiet the driver was！
Was there any driver？ Had I any reason to suppose that he was not
lying gagged and bound on the roadside； and the highwayman with
blackened face who did the thing so quietly driving mewhither？
The thing is perfectly feasible。 And what is this fancy now being
jolted out of me？ A story？ It's of no use to keep it back
particularly in this abysmal vehicle； and here it comes： I am a
Marquisa French Marquis； French； because the peerage is not so
well known； and the country is better adapted to romantic incident
a Marquis； because the democratic reader delights in the nobility。
My name is something LIGNY。 I am coming from Paris to my country
seat at St。 Germain。 It is a dark night； and I fall asleep and
tell my honest coachman； Andre； not to disturb me； and dream of an
angel。 The carriage at last stops at the chateau。 It is so dark
that when I alight I do not recognize the face of the footman who
holds the carriage door。 But what of that？PESTE！ I am heavy
with sleep。 The same obscurity also hides the old familiar
indecencies of the statues on the terrace； but there is a door； and
it opens and shuts behind me smartly。 Then I find myself in a
trap； in the presence of the brigand who has quietly gagged poor
Andre and conducted the carriage thither。 There is nothing for me
to do； as a gallant French Marquis； but to say； 〃PARBLEU！〃 draw my
rapier； and die valorously！ I am found a week or two after outside
a deserted cabaret near the barrier； with a hole through my ruffled
linen and my pockets stripped。 No； on second thoughts； I am
rescuedrescued by the angel I have been dreaming of； who is the
assumed daughter of the brigand but the real daughter of an
intimate friend。
Looking from the window again； in the vain hope of distinguishing
the driver； I found my eyes were growing accustomed to the
darkness。 I could see the distant horizon； defined by India…inky
woods； relieving a lighter sky。 A few stars widely spaced in this
picture glimmered sadly。 I noticed again the infinite depth of
patient sorrow in their serene faces； and I hope that the vandal
who first applied the flippant 〃twinkle〃 to them may not be driven
melancholy…mad by their reproachful eyes。 I noticed again the
mystic charm of space that imparts a sense of individual solitude
to each integer of the densest constellation； involving the
smallest star with immeasurable loneliness。 Something of this calm
and solitude crept over me； and I dozed in my gloomy cavern。 When
I awoke the full moon was rising。 Seen from my window； it had an
indescribably unreal and theatrical effect。 It was the full moon
of NORMAthat remarkable celestial phenomenon which rises so
palpably to a hushed audience and a sublime andante chorus； until
the CASTA DIVA is sungthe 〃inconstant moon〃 that then and
thereafter remains fixed in the heavens as though it were a part of
the solar system inaugurated by Joshua。 Again the white…robed
Druids filed past me； again I saw that improbable mistletoe cut
from that impossible oak； and again cold chills ran down my back
with the first strain of the recitative。 The thumping springs
essayed to beat time； and the private…box…like obscurity of the
vehicle lent a cheap enchantment to the view。 But it was a vast
improvement upon my past experience； and I hugged the fond
delusion。
My fears for the driver were dissipated with the rising moon。 A
familiar sound had assured me of his presence in the full
possession of at least one of his most important functions。
Frequent and full expectoration convinced me that his lips were as
yet not sealed by the gag of highwaymen； and soothed my anxious
ear。 With this load lifted from my mind； and assisted by the mild
presence of Diana； who left； as when she visited Endymion； much of
her splendor outside my cavernI looked around the empty vehicle。
On the forward seat lay a woman's hairpin。 I picked it up with an
interest that； however； soon abated。 There was no scent of the
roses to cling to it still； not even of hair oil。 No bend or twist
in its rigid angles betrayed any trait of its wearer's character。
I tried to think that it might have been 〃Mariar's。〃 I tried to
imagine that； confining the symmetrical curls of that girl； it
might have heard the soft compliments whispered in her ears which
provoked the wrath of the aged female。 But in vain。 It was
reticent and unswerving in its upright fidelity； and at last
slipped listlessly through my fingers。
I had dozed repeatedlywaked on the threshold of oblivion by
contact with some of the angles of the coach； and feeling that I
was unconsciously assuming； in imitation of a humble insect of my
childish recollection； that spherical shape which could best resist
those impressions； when I perceived that the moon； riding high in
the heavens； had begun to separate the formless masses of the
shadowy landscape。 Trees isolated； in clumps and assemblages；
changed places before my window。 The sharp outlines of the distant
hills came back； as in daylight； but little softened in the dry；
cold； dewless air of a California summer night。 I was wondering
how late it was； and thinking that if the horses of the night
traveled as slowly as the team before us； Faustus might have been
spared his agonizing prayer； when a sudden spasm of activity
attacked my driver。 A succession of whip…snappings； like a pack of
Chinese crackers； broke from the box before me。 The stage leaped
forward； and when I could pick myself from under the seat； a long
white building had in some mysterious way rolled before my window。
It must be Slumgullion！ As I descended from the stage I addressed
the driver：
〃I thought you changed horses on the road？〃
〃So we did。 Two hours ago。〃
〃That's odd。 I didn't notice it。〃
〃Must have been asleep； sir。 Hope you had a pleasant nap。 Bully
place for a nice quiet snoozeempty stage； sir！〃