| 564 | 565 | 566 | 567 | 568 |
| 1 | 236 | 472 | 708 | 944 |
|
CHAPTER II.
FROM GAY TO GRAVE.
How simple is a miracle! It was breakfast hour in the Green Box, and Dea
had merely come to see why Gwynplaine had not joined their little
breakfast table.
"It is you!" exclaimed Gwynplaine; and he had said everything. There was
no other horizon, no vision for him now but the heavens where Dea was.
His mind was appeased--appeased in such a manner as he alone can
understand who has seen the smile spread swiftly over the sea when the
hurricane had passed away. Over nothing does the calm come so quickly as
over the whirlpool. This results from its power of absorption. And so it
is with the human heart. Not always, however.
Dea had but to show herself, and all the light that was in Gwynplaine
left him and went to her, and behind the dazzled Gwynplaine there was
but a flight of phantoms. What a peacemaker is adoration! A few minutes
afterwards they were sitting opposite each other, Ursus between them,
Homo at their feet. The teapot, hung over a little lamp, was on the
table. Fibi and Vinos were outside, waiting.
They breakfasted as they supped, in the centre compartment. From the
position in which the narrow table was placed, Dea's back was turned
566
Page
Quick Jump
|