"Nobody must touch him! Let no one touch him! I want to wash him myself, I wish to dress him myself."
Then silence followed. The cries had ceased. At moments could be heard a slamming of doors. I was there alone. The doctor had been in the room, too, but I was now alone. Some extraordinary change was taking place within me; but I did not yet know exactly what it was.
"Come," said the doctor gently, touching me on the shoulder. "Come, leave the room."
I was docile; I obeyed. I walked slowly along the corridor, when I felt another touch. It was Federico; he embraced me. I did not cry; I did not feel any strong emotion; I did not understand his words. Yet I heard when he named Juliana's name.
"Take me to Juliana's room," I said to him.
I put my arm beneath his; I let myself be conducted like a blind man.
When we were in front of the door, I said: "Leave me." He pressed my hand and left me. I entered alone.
L.
In the night the silence of the house was sepulchral. A light burned in the corridor. I walked toward that light like a somnambulist. Some extraordinary change was taking place within me; but I did not yet know exactly what it was.
I stopped, warned by a sort of instinct. A door was open; a light filtered through the drawn curtains. I crossed the threshold, parted the portières, and advanced.