“Without doubt. And he is awake.”
He made a comprehensive gesture with his stick and his hands.
“But I interpret dreams,” said he—“and at one price. I will unravel you the visions of a politician or expound himself to Jack Hodge for the common charge of fifty centimes.”
He bent his head towards me with an affectation of scrutiny.
“I perceive the citizen does not credit me,” he said.
“And so his eyes rebuke his scepticism, interpreter of dreams,” said I; “for thou hast rightly construed their meaning.”
“Ah!” he murmured, raising himself and drawing in his breath. “But I find it simple to convince the most incredulous.”
“You do?”
“Yes,” he cried, clapping his chest; “for know that thou speak’st with Quatremains-Quatrepattes himself!”
He dwelt on the pause that followed; collapsed from it; regarded me, it seemed, in astonishment.