that he was seen in the house was at a concert； when he seemed to have
been drawn to the salon by Marianina's enchanting voice。
〃I have been cold for the last minute or two；〃 said a lady near the
door to her neighbor。
The stranger； who was standing near the speaker； moved away。
〃This is very strange！ now I am warm；〃 she said； after his departure。
〃Perhaps you will call me mad； but I cannot help thinking that my
neighbor； the gentleman in black who just walked away； was the cause
of my feeling cold。〃
Ere long the exaggeration to which people in society are naturally
inclined； produced a large and growing crop of the most amusing ideas；
the most curious expressions； the most absurd fables concerning this
mysterious individual。 Without being precisely a vampire； a ghoul； a
fictitious man； a sort of Faust or Robin des Bois； he partook of the
nature of all these anthropomorphic conceptions； according to those
persons who were addicted to the fantastic。 Occasionally some German
would take for realities these ingenious jests of Parisian evil…
speaking。 The stranger was simply /an old man/。 Some young men； who
were accustomed to decide the future of Europe every morning in a few
fashionable phrases； chose to see in the stranger some great criminal；
the possessor of enormous wealth。 Novelists described the old man's
life and gave some really interesting details of the atrocities
committed by him while he was in the service of the Prince of Mysore。
Bankers； men of a more positive nature； devised a specious fable。
〃Bah！〃 they would say； shrugging their broad shoulders pityingly；
〃that little old fellow's a /Genoese head/！〃
〃If it is not an impertinent question； monsieur； would you have the
kindness to tell me what you mean by a Genoese head？〃
〃I mean； monsieur； that he is a man upon whose life enormous sums
depend； and whose good health is undoubtedly essential to the
continuance of this family's income。 I remember that I once heard a
mesmerist； at Madame d'Espard's； undertake to prove by very specious
historical deductions； that this old man； if put under the magnifying
glass； would turn out to be the famous Balsamo； otherwise called
Cagliostro。 According to this modern alchemist； the Sicilian had
escaped death； and amused himself making gold for his grandchildren。
And the Bailli of Ferette declared that he recognized in this
extraordinary personage the Comte de Saint…Germain。〃
Such nonsense as this； put forth with the assumption of superior
cleverness； with the air of raillery； which in our day characterize a
society devoid of faith； kept alive vague suspicions concerning the
Lanty family。 At last； by a strange combination of circumstances； the
members of that family justified the conjectures of society by
adopting a decidedly mysterious course of conduct with this old man；
whose life was； in a certain sense； kept hidden from all
investigations。
If he crossed the threshold of the apartment he was supposed to occupy
in the Lanty mansion； his appearance always caused a great sensation
in the family。 One would have supposed that it was an event of the
greatest importance。 Only Filippo； Marianina； Madame de Lanty； and an
old servant enjoyed the privilege of assisting the unknown to walk； to
rise； to sit down。 Each one of them kept a close watch on his
slightest movements。 It seemed as if he were some enchanted person
upon whom the happiness； the life； or the fortune of all depended。 Was
it fear or affection？ Society could discover no indication which
enabled them to solve this problem。 Concealed for months at a time in
the depths of an unknown sanctuary； this familiar spirit suddenly
emerged； furtively as it were； unexpectedly； and appeared in the
salons like the fairies of old； who alighted from their winged dragons
to disturb festivities to which they had not been invited。 Only the
most experienced observers could divine the anxiety； at such times； of
the masters of the house； who were peculiarly skilful in concealing
their feelings。 But sometimes； while dancing a quadrille； the too
ingenuous Marianina would cast a terrified glance at the old man； whom
she watched closely from the circle of dancers。 Or perhaps Filippo
would leave his place and glide through the crowd to where he stood；
and remain beside him； affectionate and watchful； as if the touch of
man； or the faintest breath； would shatter that extraordinary
creature。 The countess would try to draw nearer to him without
apparently intending to join him； then； assuming a manner and an
expression in which servility and affection； submissiveness and
tyranny； were equally noticeable； she would say two or three words； to
which the old man almost always deferred； and he would disappear； led；
or I might better say carried away； by her。 If Madame de Lanty were
not present； the Count would employ a thousand ruses to reach his
side； but it always seemed as if he found difficulty in inducing him
to listen； and he treated him like a spoiled child； whose mother
gratifies his whims and at the same time suspects mutiny。 Some prying
persons having ventured to question the Comte de Lanty indiscreetly；
that cold and reserved individual seemed not to understand their
questions。 And so； after many attempts； which the circumspection of
all the members of the family rendered fruitless； no one sought to
discover a secret so well guarded。 Society spies； triflers； and
politicians； weary of the strife； ended by ceasing to concern
themselves about the mystery。
But at that moment； it may be； there were in those gorgeous salons
philosophers who said to themselves； as they discussed an ice or a
sherbet； or placed their empty punch glasses on a tray：
〃I should not be surprised to learn that these people are knaves。 That
old fellow who keeps out of sight and appears only at the equinoxes or
solstices； looks to me exactly like an assassin。〃
〃Or a bankrupt。〃
〃There's very little difference。 To destroy a man's fortune is worse
than to kill the man himself。〃
〃I bet twenty louis； monsieur； there are forty due me。〃
〃Faith； monsieur； there are only thirty left on the cloth。〃
〃Just see what a mixed company there is！ One can't play cards in
peace。〃
〃Very true。 But it's almost six months since we saw the Spirit。 Do you
think he's a living being？〃
〃Well； barely。〃
These last remarks were made in my neighborhood by persons whom I did
not know； and who passed out of hearing just as I was summarizing in
one last thought my reflections； in which black and white； life and
death； were inextricably mingled。 My wandering imagination； like my
eyes； contemplated alternately the festivities； which had now reached
the climax of their splendor； and the gloomy picture presented by the
gardens。 I have no idea how long I meditated upon those two faces of
the human medal； but I was suddenly aroused by the stifled laughter of
a young woman。 I was stupefied at the picture presented to my eyes。 By
virtue of one of the strangest of nature's freaks； the thought half
draped in black； which was tossing about in my brain； emerged from it
and stood before me personified； living； it had come forth like
Minerva from Jupiter's brain； tall and strong； it was at once a
hundred years old and twenty…two； it was alive and dead。 Escaped from
his chamber； like a madman from his cell； the little old man had
evidently crept behind a long line of people who were listening
attentively to Marianina's voice as she finished the cavatina from
/Tancred/。 He seemed to have come up through the floor； impelled by
some stage mechanism。 He stood for a moment motionless and sombre；
watching the festivities； a murmur of which had perhaps reached his
ears。 His almost somnambulistic preoccupation was so concentrated upon
things that； although he was in the midst of many people； he saw
nobody。 He had taken his place unceremoniously beside one of the most
fascinating women in Paris； a young and graceful dancer； with slender
figure； a face as fresh as a child's； all pink and white； and so
fragile； so transparent； that it seemed that a man's glance must pass
through her as the sun's rays pass through flawless glass。 They stood
there before me； side by side； so close together； that the stranger
rubbed against the gauze dress； and the wreaths of flowers； and the
hair； slightly crimped； and the floating ends of the sash。
I had brought that young woman to Madame de Lanty's ball。 As it was
her first visit to that house； I forgave her her stifled laugh； but I
hastily made an imperious sign which abashed her and inspired respect
for her neighbor。 She sat down beside me。 The old man did not choose
to leave the charming creature； to whom he clung capriciously with the
silent and apparently causeless obstinacy to which very old persons
are subject； and which makes them resemble children。 In order to sit
down beside the young lady he needed a folding…chair。 His slightest
movements were marked by the inert heaviness； the stupid hesitancy；
which characterize the movements of a paralytic。 He sat slowly down
upon his chair with great caution； mumbling some unintelligible words。
His cracked voice resembled the noise made by a ston