"Meanwhile Silvain and I continued to travel together. I pursued my studies assiduously, and did not allow myself to be discouraged by the instances of charlatanism which met me at every turn. Silvain was in the habit of relating his dreams to me, so far as he was able to recall them, and during the first three months of our intimacy nothing occurred to disturb him with respect to Kristel, whose letters he always handed to me for perusal. These letters were most affectionately written, but I gathered from them an impression that Silvain's love was the more profound of the two. It was at the expiration of three months that Silvain said, 'Louis, I am beginning to dream about you.' "'That is because we are constantly together,' I said. "'I am dreaming also of another whom I have never seen,' said Silvain. "'Man or woman?'I asked. "'Woman,' he replied. "'Young or old?' "'Young.' "I smiled and said, 'You also are young, Silvain.' "'Well?' was his inquiry. "'Love comes to the young,' I said, with the kind wisdom which youth is fond of parading. 'It may come one day to me.' "'Do _you_ dream,' said Silvain, 'of a young woman whom you have never beheld?' "'I dream of many such, no doubt,' I said, still preserving my light tone. "'Ah, yes, of many such--but of one who constantly appears, and whom you can in certain particulars vividly describe? Is this among your experiences?' "'No,' I said, 'it certainly is not.' "'Then,' continued Silvain, 'she seldom appears alone. My brother Kristel is there; occasionally, also, you.' "His earnest voice made me serious. "'Describe this woman, Silvain, as she appears to you in your dreams.' "'I cannot,' he said, after a momentary pause, 'describe her face except that I know it is beautiful, nor her form except that I know it is graceful. She has black hair, which tumbles in thick luxuriance over her shoulders below her waist, and upon her head is a scarlet covering, loosely tied, which flutters in the wind which is sweeping around her. Her figure is nearly always in this position, standing upright, with her left hand raised to her forehead, and her eyes looking eagerly forward.' "'As though searching for some one, Silvain?' "'Yes, as though searching for some one. For whom? For me? It is a question I seem to have asked of myself, I know not why. Her lips are parted, and I see her white teeth gleaming. The wild waves are dashing up to her feet, and surging all around her while the wind whistles and shrieks.' "'A storm is raging,' I suggested. "'An invisible storm, of which she appears utterly regardless.' "'And I am there?' "'And you are there,' said Silvain, 'and Kristel, and myself and this young girl, whose face I have never seen, but whose beauty spiritually impresses me, is always looking forward in the position I have described.' "'Towards us?' I asked. "'I cannot say,' he replied, 'but we seem to be moving in her direction.'