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not the least know。 I started off to the right； and got back into
the avenue which had led me into the middle of the forest。
June 3。 I have had a terrible night。 I shall go away for a few
weeks； for no doubt a journey will set me up again。
July 2。 I have come back； quite cured； and have had a most
delightful trip into the bargain。 I have been to Mont
Saint…Michel； which I had not seen before。
What a sight； when one arrives as I did； at Avranches toward the
end of the day！ The town stands on a hill； and I was taken into
the public garden at the extremity of the town。 I uttered a cry
of astonishment。 An extraordinarily large bay lay extended before
me； as far as my eyes could reach； between two hills which were
lost to sight in the mist； and in the middle of this immense
yellow bay； under a clear； golden sky； a peculiar hill rose up；
somber and pointed in the midst of the sand。 The sun had just
disappeared； and under the still flaming sky stood out the
outline of that fantastic rock which bears on its summit a
picturesque monument。
At daybreak I went to it。 The tide was low； as it had been the
night before； and I saw that wonderful abbey rise up before me as
I approached it。 After several hours' walking； I reached the
enormous mass of rock which supports the little town； dominated
by the great church。 Having climbed the steep and narrow street；
I entered the most wonderful Gothic building that has ever been
erected to God on earth； large as a town； and full of low rooms
which seem buried beneath vaulted roofs； and of lofty galleries
supported by delicate columns。
I entered this gigantic granite jewel； which is as light in its
effect as a bit of lace and is covered with towers； with slender
belfries to which spiral staircases ascend。 The flying buttresses
raise strange heads that bristle with chimeras。 with devils； with
fantastic ani…mals； with monstrous flowers； are joined together
by finely carved arches； to the blue sky by day； and to the black
sky by night。
When I had reached the summit。 I said to the monk who accompanied
me： 〃Father； how happy you must be here！〃 And he replied： 〃It is
very windy； Monsieur〃； and so we began to talk while watching the
rising tide； which ran over the sand and covered it with a steel
cuirass。
And then the monk told me stories； all the old stories belonging
to the placelegends； nothing but legends。
One of them struck me forcibly。 The country people； those
belonging to the Mornet； declare that at night one can hear
talking going on in the sand； and also that two goats bleat； one
with a strong； the other with a weak voice。 Incredulous people
declare that it is nothing but the screaming of the sea birds；
which occasionally resembles bleatings； and occasionally human
lamentations； but belated fishermen swear that they have met an
old shepherd； whose cloak covered head they can never see；
wandering on the sand； between two tides； round the little town
placed so far out of the world。 They declare he is guiding and
walking before a he…goat with a man's face and a she…goat with a
woman's face； both with white hair； who talk incessantly；
quarreling in a strange language； and then suddenly cease talking
in order to bleat with all their might。
〃Do you believe it？〃 I asked the monk。 〃I scarcely know；〃 he
replied； and I continued： 〃If there are other beings besides
ourselves on this earth； how comes it that we have not known it
for so long a time； or why have you not seen them？ How is it that
I have not seen them？〃
He replied： 〃Do we see the hundred…thousandth part of what
exists？ Look here； there is the wind； which is the strongest
force in nature。 It knocks down men； and blows down buildings；
uproots trees； raises the sea into mountains of water； destroys
cliffs and casts great ships on to the breakers； it kills； it
whistles； it sighs； it roars。 But have you ever seen it； and can
you see it？ Yet it exists for all that。〃
I was silent before this simple reasoning。 That man was a
philosopher； or perhaps a fool； I could not say which exactly； so
I held my tongue。 What he had said had often been in my own
thoughts。
July 3。 I have slept badly； certainly there is some feverish
influence here； for my coachman is suffering in the same way as I
am。 When I went back home yesterday； I noticed his singular
paleness； and I asked him： 〃What is the matter with you； Jean？〃
〃The matter is that I never get any rest； and my nights devour my
days。 Since your departure； Monsieur； there has been a spell over
me。〃
However； the other servants are all well； but I am very
frightened of having another attack； myself。
July 4。 I am decidedly taken again； for my old nightmares have
returned。 Last night I felt somebody leaning on me who was
sucking my life from between my lips with his mouth。 Yes； he was
sucking it out of my neck like a leech would have done。 Then he
got up； satiated； and I woke up； so beaten； crushed； and
annihilated that I could not move。 If this continues for a few
days； I shall certainly go away again。
July 5。 Have I lost my reason？ What has happened？ What I saw last
night is so strange that my head wanders when I think of it！
As I do now every evening； I had locked my door； then； being
thirsty； I drank half a glass of water； and I accidentally
noticed that the water…bottle was full up to the cut…glass
stopper。
Then I went to bed and fell into one of my terrible sleeps； from
which I was aroused in about two hours by a still more terrible
shock。
Picture to yourself a sleeping man who is being murdered； who
wakes up with a knife in his chest； a gurgling in his throat； is
covered with blood； can no longer breathe； is going to die and
does not understand anything at all about itthere you have it。
Having recovered my senses； I was thirsty again； so I lighted a
candle and went to the table on which my water…bottle was。 I
lifted it up and tilted it over my glass； but nothing came out。
It was empty！ It was completely empty！ At first I could not
understand it at all； then suddenly I was seized by such a
terrible feeling that I had to sit down； or rather fall into a
chair！ Then I sprang up with a bound to look about me； then I sat
down again； overcome by astonishment and fear； in front of the
transparent crystal bottle！ I looked at it with fixed eyes；
trying to solve the puzzle； and my hands trembled！ Some body had
drunk the water； but who？ I？ I without any doubt。 It could surely
only be I？ In that case I was a somnambulistwas living； without
knowing it； that double； mysterious life which makes us doubt
whether there are not two beings in uswhether a strange；
unknowable； and invisible being does not； during our moments of
mental and physical torpor； animate the inert body； forcing it to
a more willing obedience than it yields to ourselves。
Oh！ Who will understand my horrible agony？ Who will understand
the emotion of a man sound in mind； wide…awake； full of sense；
who looks in horror at the disappearance of a little water while
he was asleep； through the glass of a water…bottle！ And I
remained sitting until it was daylight； without venturing to go
to bed again。
July 6。