Gilpin observer., 1913-09-11

for he sang. And l listened {.
and stayed! That night, we
did not exchange another word. He
sang me to sleep.
When woke up, was alone, ly-
ing on a sofa in simply furnished
little bedroom, with an ordinary ma
hogany bedstead. lit by a lamp stand
ing on the marble top Of an old Louis
Philippe chest Of drawers. | soon dis
covered that l was prisoner and that
the only outlet from my room led to
turning to the bedroom, l saw on the
chest OF drawers a note. in red ink.
which said. My dear Christine, you
need have no concern as to your fate.
You have no better nor more respect
full friend in the world than myself
You are alone, at present. in this
home which is yours. l am going out
shopping to fetch you all the things
that you can need felt sure that
had fallen into the hands OF a mad
man. l ran round my little apart
ment. looking for a way of escape
which l could not find. | upbraided
myself for my absurd superstition.
which had caused me to fall into the
trap. felt inclined to laugh and to
cry at the same time.
This was the state OF mind in
which Erik found me. After giving
three taps on the wall. he walked in
quietly through door which | had
not noticed and which he left open.
He had his arms full OF boxes and
parcels and arranged them on the bed,
in leisurely fashion. while l over
whelmed him with abuse and called
upon him to take OF his mask. II 1t
covered the face OF an honest man.
He replied serenely. You shall never
see Erik's face And he reproached
me with not having finished dressing
at that time Of day: he was good
enough to tell me that 1t was two
o'clock in the afternoon. He said he
would give me half an hour and, while
he spoke. wound up my watch and set
1t for me. After which. he asked me
to come to the dining-room. where a
nice lunch was waiting for US.
Il was very angry. slammed the
door In his face and went to the bath
room. When / came out again
feeling greatly refreshed Erik said
that he loved me. but that he would
never tell me SO except when l al
lowed him and that the rest OF the
time would be devoted to music
What do you nean by the rest OF the
with decision. | asked him II should
then be free and he said, You will be
free. Christine. for. when those i've
days are past. you will have learned
not to see me: and then, from time
to time. you will come to see your
poor Erik He pointed to a chair op-
posite him. at small table, and |
sat down, feeling greatly perturbed
However. / ate few prawns and the
wing OF a chicken and drank half a
glass OF tokay. which he had himself.
he told me. brought from the Konigs-
berg cellars. Erik did not eat or
drink. asked him what his nation
ality was and II that name OF Erik
did not point to his Scandinavian
origin. He said that he had no name
and no country and that he had taken
the name OF Erik by accident.
After lunch. he rose and gave me
the tips Of his fingers, saying he
would like to show me over his nat:
but l snatched away my hand and
gave a cry. What had touched was
cold and, at the same time. bony; and
/ remembered that his hands smelt OF
death. oh. forgive mel he moaned
And he opened door before me.
This is my bedroom. II you care to
SEQ 1t. II is rather curious. His
manners. his words, his attitude gave
me confidence and went In without
hesitation. I felt as II | were enter
Ing the room Of a dead person. The
walls were all hung with black. but.
instead of the white trimmings that
usually set of that funeral upholstery.
there was an enormous stave OF music
with the notes OF the Dies Irae, many
times repeated. In the middle OF the
room was a canopy, from which hung
curtains OF red brocaded stun. and,
under the canopy. an open coffin.
That is where | sleep. said Erik.
"One has to get used to everything
in life. even to eternity The sight
upset me 80 much that turned away
my head.
Then l saw the keyboard OF an
organ which filled one whole side OF
the walls. On the desk was a music
book covered with red notes. asked
leave to look at It and read. Don
Juan Triumphant Yes he said, 4
compose sometimes. | began that
work twenty years ago. When have
finished. shall take It away with me
in that coffin and never wake up
again You must work at It as sci.
dom as you can said. he replied.
I sometimes work at II for fourteen
days and nights together. during which
live on music only, and then rest
for years at time VIII you play
me something out Of your Don Juan
Triumphant asked. thinking TO