"Oh, very much!"
"There, that's better! ... You're better now, are you not? ... That's
all right, you're better! ... No excitement! ... And what a funny
house, isn't it, with landscapes like that in it?"
"Yes, it's like the Musee Grevin ... But, say, Erik ... there are no
tortures in there! ... What a fright you gave me!"
"Why ... as there is no one there?"
"Did you design that room? It's very handsome. You're a great artist,
Erik."
"Yes, a great artist, in my own line."
"But tell me, Erik, why did you call that room the torture-chamber?"
"Oh, it's very simple. First of all, what did you see?"
"I saw a forest."
"And what is in a forest?"
"Trees."
"And what is in a tree?"
"Birds."
"Did you see any birds?"
"No, I did not see any birds."
"Well, what did you see? Think! You saw branches And what are the
branches?" asked the terrible voice. "THERE'S A GIBBET! That is why I
call my wood the torture-chamber! ... You see, it's all a joke. I
never express myself like other people. But I am very tired of it! ...
I'm sick and tired of having a forest and a torture-chamber in my house
and of living like a mountebank, in a house with a false bottom! ...
I'm tired of it! I want to have a nice, quiet flat, with ordinary
doors and windows and a wife inside it, like anybody else! A wife whom
I could love and take out on Sundays and keep amused on week-days ...
Here, shall I show you some card-tricks? That will help us to pass a
few minutes, while waiting for eleven o'clock to-morrow evening ... My
dear little Christine! ... Are you listening to me? ... Tell me you
love me! ... No, you don't love me ... but no matter, you will! ...
Once, you could not look at my mask because you knew what was behind...
And now you don't mind looking at it and you forget what is behind! ...
One can get used to everything ... if one wishes... Plenty of young
people who did not care for each other before marriage have adored each
other since! Oh, I don't know what I am talking about! But you would
have lots of fun with me. For instance, I am the greatest
ventriloquist that ever lived, I am the first ventriloquist in the
world! ... You're laughing ... Perhaps you don't believe me? Listen."
The wretch, who really was the first ventriloquist in the world, was
only trying to divert the child's attention from the torture-chamber;
but it was a stupid scheme, for Christine thought of nothing but us!
She repeatedly besought him, in the gentlest tones which she could
assume: "Put out the light in the little window! ... Erik, do put out the light
in the little window!"