The others continued to play in the palace, like a lot of happy kittens,
and Châli never left me except when I went to the prince.
We passed delicious hours together in the ruins of the old castle, among
the monkeys, who had become our friends.
She used to lie on my knees, and remain there, turning all sorts of
things over in her little sphinx's head, or perhaps not thinking of
anything, retaining that beautiful, charming, hereditary pose of that
noble and dreamy people, the hieratic pose of the sacred statues.
In a large brass dish I had brought provisions, cakes, fruits. The apes
came nearer and nearer, followed by their young ones, who were more
timid; at last they sat down round us in a circle, without daring to
come any nearer, waiting for me to distribute my delicacies. Then,
almost invariably, a male more daring than the rest would come to me
with outstretched hand, like a beggar, and I would give him something,
which he would take to his wife. All the others immediately began to
utter furious cries, cries of rage and jealousy; and I could not make
the terrible racket cease except by throwing each one his share.
As I was very comfortable in the ruins I had my instruments brought
there, so that I might be able to work. As soon, however, as they saw
the copper fittings on my scientific instruments, the monkeys, no doubt
taking them for some deadly engines, fled on all sides, uttering the
most piercing cries.
I often also spent my evenings with Châli on one of the external
galleries that looked on to the lake of Vihara. Without speaking we
looked at the bright moon gliding over the sky and throwing a mantle of
trembling silver over the water, and down there, on the further shore,
the row of small pagodas like elegant mushrooms with their stalks in the
water. Taking the thoughtful head of my little mistress between my
hands, I printed a long, soft kiss on her polished brow, on her great
eyes, which were full of the secret of that ancient and fabulous land,
and on her calm lips which opened to my caress. I felt a confused,
powerful, above all, a poetical, sensation, the sensation that I
possessed a whole race in this little girl, that mysterious race from
which all the others seem to have taken their origin.
The prince, however, continued to load me with presents. One day he sent
me a very unexpected object, which excited a passionate admiration in
Châli. It was merely one of those cardboard boxes covered with shells
stuck on outside, and they can be bought at any European seaside resort
for a penny or two. But there it was a jewel beyond price, and no doubt
was the first that had found its way into the kingdom. I put it on a
table and left it there, wondering at the value which was set upon this
trumpery article out of a bazaar.
But Châli never got tired of looking at it, of admiring it ecstatically.
From time to time she would say to me, "May I touch it?" And when I had
given her permission she raised the lid, closed it again with the
greatest precaution, touched the shells very gently, and the contact
seemed to give her real physical pleasure.
However, I had finished my work, and it was time for me to return. I was
a long time in making up my mind, kept back by my tenderness for my
little friend, but at last I was obliged to fix the day of my departure.
The prince got up fresh hunting excursions and fresh wrestling matches,
and after a fortnight of these pleasures I declared that I could stay no
longer, and he gave me my liberty.
My farewell from Châli was heartrending. She wept, lying beside me, with
her head on my breast, shaken with sobs. I did not know how to console
her; my kisses were no good.
All at once an idea struck me, and getting up I went and got the
shell-box, and putting it into her hands, I said, "That is for you; it
is yours."
Then I saw her smile at first. Her whole face was lighted up with
internal joy, with that profound joy when impossible dreams are suddenly
realized, and she embraced me ardently.
All the same, she wept bitterly when I bade her a last farewell.
I gave paternal kisses and cakes to all the rest of my wives, and then I
started.