“Oh, if you question it about the future,” said Mariotte, “you will only get back thumping lies, or else it will hold its tongue.”
“Oh, shut up,” interposed Cardaillac. The question was repeated—“Who will live in this house in a year’s time?”
“Nobody,” said the interpreter.
“And in two years’ time?”
“Nicolas Vermont.”
All of us heard this name for the first time.
“What will he be doing at this very hour on the anniversary of to-day? Tell us what he is doing—speak.”
“He is beginning ... to write here ... his adventures.”
“Can you read what he writes?”
“Yes ... and also what he will write.”