Part 14 (1/2)
He had one more turn at sentry duty. But, even while dozing, he remained conscious of all that happened around him. A clock struck the hours with a low chime; and each time Perenna counted the strokes. Then came the life outside awakening, the rattle of the milk-carts, the whistle of the early suburban trains.
People began to stir inside the house. The daylight trickled in through the crannies of the shutters, and the room gradually became filled with light.
”Let's go away,” said Sergeant Mazeroux. ”It would be better for him not to find us here.”
”Hold your tongue!” said Don Luis, with an imperious gesture.
”Why?”
”You'll wake him up.”
”But you can see I'm not waking him,” said Mazeroux, without lowering his tone.
”That's true, that's true,” whispered Don Luis, astonished that the sound of that voice had not disturbed the sleeper.
And he felt himself overcome with the same anguish that had seized upon him in the middle of the night, a more clearly defined anguish, although he would not, although he dared not, try to realize the reason of it.
”What's the matter with you, Chief? You're looking like nothing on earth.
What is it?”
”Nothing--nothing. I'm frightened--”
Mazeroux shuddered.
”Frightened of what? You say that just as he did last night.”
”Yes ... yes ... and for the same reason.”
”But--?”
”Don't you understand? Don't you understand that I'm wondering--?”
”No; what?”
”If he's not dead!”
”But you're mad, Chief!”
”No.... I don't know.... Only, only ... I have an impression of death--”
Lantern in hand, he stood as one paralyzed, opposite the bed; and he who was afraid of nothing in the world had not the courage to throw the light on Hippolyte Fauville's face. A terrifying silence rose and filled the room.
”Oh, Chief, he's not moving!”
”I know ... I know ... and I now see that he has not moved once during the night. And that's what frightens me.”
He had to make a real effort in order to step forward. He was now almost touching the bed.
The engineer did not appear to breathe.