I remember: I awoke on the morning after that stormy evening, calm and even gay. Apparently it was the effect of the sun, shining into that same, broad window through which, at night, there streamed that unwelcome and too highly significant moonlight. You understand: now the moon and now the sun? Oh, you understand everything. It is probably for the very same reason I acquired my touching faith in the integrity of Magnus and awaited toward evening that cloudless bliss. This expectation was all the greater because his collaborators...you remember his collaborators?—had begun to greet and bow to me. What is a greeting?—ah, how much it means to the faith of man!
You know my good manners and, therefore, will believe me when I say that I was cold and restrained like a gentleman who has just received a legacy. But if you had put your ear to my belly you would have heard violins playing within. Something about love, you understand. Oh, you understand everything. And thus, with these violins did I come to Magnus in the evening when the moon was shining brightly. Magnus was alone. We were long silent and this indicated that an interesting conversation awaited me. Finally I said:
“How is the Signorina’s health?”...
But he interrupted me:
“We are facing a very difficult talk, Wondergood? Does that disturb you?”
“Oh, no, not at all.”
“Do you want wine? Well, never mind. I shall drink a little but you need not. Yes, Wondergood?”
He laughed as he poured out the wine and here I noticed with astonishment that he himself was very excited: his large, white, hangman’s hands were quite noticeably trembling. I do not know exactly just when my violins ceased—I think it was at that very moment. Magnus gulped down two glasses of wine—he had intended to take only a little—and, sitting down, continued:
“No, you ought not to drink, Wondergood. I need all your senses, undimmed by anything...you didn’t drink anything to-day? No? That’s good. Your senses must be clear and sober. One must not take anesthetics in such cases as...as....”
“As vivisection?”