I concentrated my attention on the project in which I was engrossed and on the different actors in the, as yet, hidden little drama. Then, gradually, after some preliminary gropings, and without my helping her with a word or gesture, she really penetrated into my thoughts, read them, so to speak, as a slightly veiled book, placed the situation of the scene most accurately, recognized the principal characters and described them summarily, with hopping and childish, but quaintly correct and precise little touches. "That's very good, Julia," I then said, "but I know all that; what you ought to tell me is what is going to happen later." "What is going to happen, what is going to happen ... you want to know all that is going to happen, but it's very difficult...." "But still? How will the business end? Shall I win?" "Yes, yes, I see; don't be afraid, I'll help you; you will be pleased...." "But the enemy of whom you told me; the one who is resisting me and who wishes me ill...." "No, no, he wishes you no ill, it's because of some one else.... I can't see why.... He hates him.... Oh, he hates him, he hates him! And it is because you like the other one so much that he does not want you to do for him what you wish to do." What she said was true. "But tell me," I insisted, "will he go on to the end, will he not yield?" "Oh, do not fear him.... I see, he is ill; he will not live long." "You are mistaken, Julia; I saw him two days ago; he is quite well." "No, no, he is ill.... It doesn't show, but he is very ill ... he must die soon...." "But how, in that case, and why?" "There is blood upon him, around him, everywhere...." "Blood? Is it a duel?" (I had thought, for a moment, that I might be called upon to fight my adversary.) "An accident, a murder, a revenge?" (He was an unjust and unscrupulous man, who had done much harm to many people.) "No, no, ask me no more, I am very tired.... Let me go...." "Not before I know...." "No, I can tell you nothing more.... I am too tired.... Let me go.... Be good, I will help you...." The same attack as at first then convulsed the body, in which the little voice had ceased; and the mask of forty years again covered the face of the woman, who seemed to be waking from a long sleep. Is it necessary to add that we had never seen each other before this meeting and that we knew as little of each other as though we had been born on different planets? VI