“Because during the last few days I have been suffering myself.”
“I hope you will excuse my continual questions; but, really, your answer does not make matters any clearer.”
“Well, you know that we are twins, don’t you?”
“Yes, my guide told me as much.”
“Were you also informed that when we came into the world we were joined together?”
“No; I was ignorant of that circumstance.”
“Well, then, it was a fact, and we were obliged to be cut asunder. So that, you see, however distant we may be, we have ever the same body, so that any impression, physical or moral, which one may receive is immediately reflected in the other. During the last few days I felt triste, morose, dull, and without any predisposing cause, so far as I am aware. I have experienced terrible pains in the region of the heart, and palpitations, so it is evident to me that my brother is suffering some great grief.”
I looked with astonishment at this young man, who affirmed such a strange thing without the slightest fear of contradiction, and his mother also appeared to entertain the same conviction as he did.
Madame de Franchi smiled sadly, and said, “The absent are in the hands of God, the great point is that you are certain that he is alive.”
“Yes,” replied Lucien, calmly, “for if he were dead I should have seen him.”