"Assist me? Why no!--you can do nothing. I want rest, ... and I cannot
sleep here, ... the air is too close and sulphureous,----the very stars
are burning hot! ..." I paused,--he regarded me with his usual gravely
derisive expression. "I am going down to my cabin"--I continued, trying
to speak more calmly----"I shall be _alone_ there ... perhaps!" Again I
laughed wildly and involuntarily, and staggered away from him down the
deck-stairs, afraid to look back lest I should see those Three Figures
of fate following me.
Once safe in my cabin I shut to the door violently, and in feverish
haste, seized my case of pistols. I took out one and loaded it. My heart
was beating furiously,--I kept my eyes fixed on the ground, lest they
should encounter the dead eyes of Sibyl.
"One click of the trigger--" I whispered--"and all is over! I shall be
at peace,--senseless,--sightless and painless. Horrors can no longer
haunt me, ... I shall sleep!"
I raised the weapon steadily to my right temple, ... when suddenly my
cabin-door opened, and Lucio looked in.
"Pardon me!" he said, as he observed my attitude--"I had no idea you
were busy! I will go away. I would not disturb you for the world!"
His smile had something fiendish in its fine mockery;--moved with a
quick revulsion of feeling I turned the pistol downwards and held its
muzzle firmly against the table near me.
"_You_ say that!" I exclaimed in acute anguish,--"_you_ say it--seeing
me thus! I thought you were my friend!"
He looked full at me, ... his eyes grew large and luminous with a
splendour of scorn, passion and sorrow intermingled.
"Did you?" and again the terrific smile lit up his pale features,--"You
were mistaken! _I am your Enemy!_"
A dreadful silence followed. Something lurid and unearthly in his
expression appalled me, ... I trembled and grew cold with fear.
Mechanically I replaced the pistol in its case,----then I gazed up at
him with a vacant wonder and wild piteousness, seeing that his dark and
frowning figure seemed to increase in stature, towering above me like
the gigantic shadow of a storm-cloud! My blood froze with an unnameable
sickening terror, ... then, thick darkness veiled my sight, and I
dropped down senseless!