THE EQUINOX
at my forwardness. AsI was going to address them an awful
feeling passed over me. My old fancy took possession of my
brains again, and I imagined myself made of flesh and bones.
I began to suffer as if my body had in reality become stiff and
benumbed. Happily it was enough for me to turn and see
the coffin, and my delusion fled. Moreover, I noticed that I
had forgotten one of the most important things. The very
colour of the coffin ought to have told the truth to me long
ago. Of course I was now of a dark brown complexion,
almost black, and this was the reason of their surprise.
A movement which I detected among them made me turn
quickly towards my box. Too late, alas! The scoundrels had
taken advantage of my few steps towards them, and were
pillaging the coffin, keeper of lofty thoughts.
The piercing cry I uttered perplexed them. One had
already the skull in his hands, but on hearing me he put it
back in the compartment instantly; and they all began chant-
ing a slow prayer, which I could not understand. I went back
straight to the box, and, kneeling over it, sought consolation in
the sweet tune of the twolast compartments. When I turned
round again the miserable, unintelligent creatures had gone,
all but two, who advanced towards me. They were women
of a lovely type.
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