Chapter 10

           Theprinceunderstoodatlastwhyheshiveredwithdreadeverytimehethoughtofthethreelettersinhispocket,andwhyhehadputoffreadingthemuntiltheevening.

           Whenhefellintoaheavysleeponthesofaontheverandah,withouthavinghadthecouragetoopenasingleoneofthethreeenvelopes,heagaindreamedapainfuldream,andoncemorethatpoor,“sinful”womanappearedtohim.Againshegazedathimwithtearssparklingonherlonglashes,andbeckonedhimafterher;andagainheawoke,asbefore,withthepictureofherfacehauntinghim.

           Helongedtogetupandgotoheratonce—buthecouldnot.Atlength,almostindespair,heunfoldedtheletters,andbegantoreadthem.

           Theseletters,too,werelikeadream.Wesometimeshavestrange,impossibledreams,contrarytoallthelawsofnature.Whenweawakewerememberthemandwonderattheirstrangeness.Youremember,perhaps,thatyouwereinfullpossessionofyourreasonduringthissuccessionoffantasticimages;eventhatyouactedwithextraordinarylogicandcunningwhilesurroundedbymurdererswhohidtheirintentionsandmadegreatdemonstrationsoffriendship,whilewaitingforanopportunitytocutyourthroat.Yourememberhowyouescapedthembysomeingeniousstratagem;thenyoudoubtediftheywerereallydeceived,orwhethertheywereonlypretendingnottoknowyourhiding-place;thenyouthoughtofanotherplanandhoodwinkedthemonceagain.