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ughts kept running in all directions。
He must have had a very violent fever； for Mademoiselle Prefere； the Abbots of Saint…Germain…des…Pres； and the servant of Madame de Gabry appeared to him in divers fantastic shapes。 The figure of the servant in particular lengthened weirdly over his head； grimacing like some gargoyle of a cathedral。 Then it seemed to me that there were a great many people； much too many people； in my bedroom。
This bedroom of mine is furnished after the antiquated fashion。 The portrait of my father in full uniform； and the portrait of my mother in her cashmere dress； are suspended on the wall。 The wall…paper is covered with green foliage designs。 I am aware of all this； and I am even conscious that everything is faded； very much faded。 But an old man's room does not require to be pretty； it is enough that it should be clean； and Therese sees to that。 At all events my room is sufficiently decorated to please a mind like mine； which has always remained somewhat childish and dreamy。 There are things hanging on the wall or scattered over the tables and shelves which usually please my fancy and amuse me。 But to…day it would seem as if all those objects had suddenly conceived some kind of ill…will against me。 They have all become garish； grimacing； menacing。 That statuette； modelled after one of the Theological Virtues of Notre… Dame de Brou； always so ingenuously graceful in its natural condition； is now making contortions and putting out its tongue at me。 And that beautiful miniaturein which one of the most skilful pupils of Jehan Fouquet depicted himself； girdled with the cord…girdle of the Sons of St。 Francis； offering his book； on bended knee； to the good Duc d'Angoulemewho has taken it out of its frame and put in its place a great ugly cat's head； which stares at me with phosphorescent eyes。 And the designs on the wall…paper have also turned into headshideous green heads。。。。 But noI am sure that wall…paper must have foliage…designs upon it at this moment just as it had twenty years ago； and nothing else。。。。 But no； againI was right beforethey are heads； with eyes； noses； mouthsthey are heads！。。。 Ah！ now I understand！ they are both heads and foliage… designs at the same time。 I wish I could not see them at all。
And there； on my right； the pretty miniature of the Franciscan has come back again； but it seems to me as if I can only keep it in its frame by a tremendous effort of will； and that the moment I get tired the ugly cat…head will appear in its place。 Certainly I am not delirious； I can see Therese very plainly； standing at the foot of my bed； I can hear her speaking to me perfectly well； and I should be able to answer her quite satisfactorily if I were not kept so busy in trying to compel the various objects about me to maintain their natural aspect。
Here is the doctor coming。 I never sent for him； but it gives me pleasure to see him。 He is an old neighbor of mine； I have never been of much service to him； but I like him very much。 Even if I do not say much to him； I have at least full possession of all my faculties； and I even find myself extraordinarily crafty and observant to…day； for I note all his gestures； his every look； the least wrinkling of his face。 But the doctor is very cunning； too； and I cannot really tell what he thinks about me。 The deep thought of Goethe suddenly comes to my mind and I exclaim；
〃Doctor； the old man has consented to allow himself to become sick； but he does not intend； this time at least； to make any further concessions to nature。〃
Neither the doctor nor Therese laughs at my little joke。 I suppose they cannot have understood it。
The doctor goes away； evening comes； and all sorts of strange shadows begin to shape themselves about my bed…curtains； forming and dissolving by turns。 And other shadowsghoststhrong by before me； and through them I can see distinctively the impassive face of my faithful servant。 And suddenly a cry； a shrill cry； a great cry of distress； rends my ears。 Was it you who called me Jeanne？
The day is over； and the shadows take their places at my bedside to remain with me all through the long night。
Then morning comesI feel a peace； a vast peace； wrapping me all about。
Art Thou about to take me into Thy rest； my dear Lord God？
February 186…。
The doctor is quite jovial。 It seems that I am doing him a great deal of credit by being able to get out of bed。 If I must believe him； innumerable disorders must have pounced down upon my poor old body all at the same time。
These disorders； which are the terror of ordinary mankind； have names which are the terror of philologists。 They are hybrid names； half Greek； half Latin； with terminations in 〃itis；〃 indicating the inflammatory condition； and in 〃algia；〃 indicating pain。 The doctor gives me all their names； together with a corresponding number of adjectives ending in 〃ic；〃 which serve to characterise their detestable qualities。 In short； they represent a good half of that most perfect copy of the Dictionary of Medicine contained in the too… authentic box of Pandora。
〃Doctor； what an excellent common…sense story the story of Pandora is！if I were a poet I would put it into French verse。 Shake hands； doctor！ You have brought me back to life； I forgive you for it。 You have given me back to my friends； I thank you for it。 You say I am quite strong。 That may be； that may be； but I have lasted a very long time。 I am a very old article of furniture； I might be very satisfactorily compared to my father's arm…chair。 It was an arm… chair which the good man had inherited； and in which he used to lounge from morning until evening。 Twenty times a day； when I was quite a baby； I used to climb up and seat myself on one of the arms of that old…fashioned chair。 So long as the chair remained intact； nobody paid any particular attention to it。 But it began to limp on one foot and then folks began to say that it was a very good chair。 Afterwards it became lame in three legs； squeaked with the fourth leg； and lost nearly half of both arms。 Then everybody would exclaim； 'What a strong chair！' They wondered how it was that after its arms had been worn off and all its legs knocked out of perpendicular； it could yet preserve the recognisable shape of a chair； remains nearly erect； and still be of some service。 The horse…hair came out of its body at last； and it gave up the ghost。 And when Cyprien； our servant； sawed up its mutilated members for fire…wood； everybody redoubled their cries of admiration。 Oh！ what an excellentwhat a marvellous chair！ It was the chair of Pierre Sylvestre Bonnard； the cloth merchantof Epimenide Bonnard； his sonof Jean…Baptiste Bonnard； the Pyrrhonian philosopher and Chief of the Third Maritime Division。 Oh！ what a robust and venerable chair！' In reality it was a dead chair。 Well； doctor； I am that chair。 You think I am solid because I have been able to resist an attack which would have killed many people； and which only three… fourths killed me。 Much obliged！ I feel none the less that I am something which has been irremediably damaged。〃
The doctor tries to prove to me； with the help of enormous Greek and Latin