The thought had scarcely passed through his mind when the old spaniel whined. This intelligent voice made Don Juan tremble. He believed that the dog understood him. "I knew that I could count on you, my son," said the dying man. "There, you shall be satisfied. I shall live, but without depriving you of a single day of your life." "He raves," said Don Juan to himself. Then he said, aloud: "Yes, my dearest father, you will indeed live as long as I do, for your image will be always in my heart." "It is not a question of that sort of life," said the old nobleman, gathering all his strength to raise himself to a sitting posture, for he was stirred by one of those suspicions which are only born at the bedside of the dying. "Listen, my son," he continued in a voice weakened by this last effort. "I have no more desire to die than you have to give up your lady loves, wine, horses, falcons, hounds and money----" "I can well believe it," thought his son, kneeling beside the pillow and kissing one of Bartholomeo's cadaverous hands. "But, father," he said aloud, "my dear father, we must submit to the will of God!" "God! I am also God!" growled the old man. "Do not blaspheme!" cried the young man, seeing the menacing expression which was overspreading his father's features. "Be careful what you say, for you have received extreme unction and I should never be consoled if you were to die in a state of sin." "Are you going to listen to me?" cried the dying man, gnashing his toothless jaws. Don Juan held his peace. A horrible silence reigned. Through the dull wail of the snowstorm came again the melody of the viol and the heavenly voice, faint as the dawning day. The dying man smiled. "I thank you for having brought singers and music! A banquet, young and beautiful women, with dark locks, all the pleasures of life. Let them remain. I am about to be born again." "The delirium is at its height," said Don Juan to himself. "I have discovered a means of resuscitation. There, look in the drawer of the table--you open it by pressing a hidden spring near the griffin." "I have it, father." "Good! Now take out a little flask of rock crystal." "Here it is." "I have spent twenty years in----" At this point the old man felt his end approaching, and collected all his energy to say: "As soon as I have drawn my last breath rub me with this water and I shall come to life again." "There is very little of it," replied the young man.