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Finally, because at Bruges there is a dark young lady slight, tall, and whom we may also call intelligent, although she speaks Italian badly, and does not understand music." Noemi pursed her lips and wrinkled her nose. "What nonsense," she said. Carlino continued, saying he did not yet know how, but in some way or another the brunette would become the penitent of the old priest.
Hush!" or stopped to gaze at an ancient church, its gables, and pinnacles looming weird in the moonlight, the cemetery nestling close by; Carlino, again interrupting, would beg them to talk, converse, gesticulate. "Don't stare into space," said he. A mutiny broke out in the vanguard, Noemi being the more petulant.
The hag, again opening her shears, was already approaching the web anew, when she saw the shadow of Carlino. "Fly, unhappy man," cried she, without turning round; "I know what brings you here, but I can do nothing for you. Go to my sister; perhaps she will give you what you desire. She is Life I am Death." Carlino did not wait for a second bidding.
Carlino had in his mind some inspired thoughts to which he would give utterance, concerning this mystic sense which attracts the girl of four and twenty to the man of ninety; a priest, on the verge of the grave, but upheld by an indomitable spirit unconquered as often happens by the ravages of time. But how is all this to end? Neither Noemi nor Jeanne could imagine.
"Gracious!" murmured Noemi. Carlino was so excited, that he did not hear her. "The old man," said he, "seems to perceive in this union a human trinity similar to the Divine Trinity, and therefore finds it just, finds it a holy thing, that man should aspire to it. At last he is silent, overcome by the things he has said; and walks towards Notre Dame. The maiden takes his arm.
The maid, accustomed to these attacks whispered to the doctor: "It is passing," and then said aloud: "Six o'clock, Signora." The words seemed to have a miraculous effect. Jeanne, whom they had placed on the bed without undressing her, sat up, rather dazed it is true, but quite mistress of her limbs and her voice. She inquired for Carlino immediately and anxiously.
Though he cursed the fairies who had played on his credulity, Carlino, like a true prince, would not break his word. He gallantly gave his hand to Lucy and helped her to descend from the tree, all the while heaving sighs that would have melted a heart of stone.
"With you present?" said Noemi. "How can that be possible?" Carlino explained that he would not walk with them, but would follow, note-book and pencil in hand. They would be obliged to halt from time to time according to his pleasure, and must be prepared to obey any other orders he might see fit to issue. "Very well," said Noemi, "first let us go to the Quai du Rosaire to see the swans."
How difficult it was to make the girl speak out. Jeanne freed herself from her, but Noemi, alarmed, at once seized her arm again. "Capital!" cried Carlino. "But don't overdo it." "Forgive me," Noemi pleaded. "It is only a supposition after all; only a conjecture. She herself says so." "No," Jeanne burst out, sweeping away doubt and conjecture. "No, it is not he, it is not possible.
But when she, not in the least annoyed, was about to leave the room, he called her back to inquire whether she had heard how his novel was to end. Yes! she had heard; a moonlight walk of the hero and heroine through the streets of Bruges. "Well," said Carlino, "as there will be a moon to-night, I should like to walk with you and Noemi from ten to twelve and take some notes."
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