Within a very short time I became a temporary resident in the house of Heliobas, and felt myself to be perfectly at home there. I had explained to Madame Denise the cause of my leaving her comfortable Pension, and she had fully approved of my being under a physician's personal care in order to ensure rapid recovery; but when she heard the name of that physician, which I gave (in accordance with Zara's instructions) as Dr. Casimir, she held up her fat hands in dismay.
"Oh, mademoiselle," she exclaimed, "have you not dread of that terrible man? Is it not he that is reported to be a cruel mesmerist who sacrifices everybody--yes, even his own sister, to his medical experiments? Ah, mon Dieu! it makes me to shudder!"
And she shuddered directly, as a proof of her veracity. I was amused. I saw in her an example of the common multitude, who are more ready to believe in vulgar spirit-rapping and mesmerism than to accept an established scientific fact.
"Do you know Dr. Casimir and his sister?" I asked her.
"I have seen them, mademoiselle; perhaps once--twice--three times! It is true madame is lovely as an angel; but they say"--here she lowered her voice mysteriously--"that she is wedded to a devil! It is true, mademoiselle--all people say so. And Suzanne Michot--a very respectable young person, mademoiselle, from Auteuil--she was employed at one time as under-housemaid at Dr. Casimir's, and she had things to say--ah, to make the blood like ice!"
"What did she say?" I asked with a half smile.
"Well," and Madame Denise came close to me and looked confidential, "Suzanne--I assure you a most respectable girl--said that one evening she was crossing the passage near Madame Casimir's boudoir, and she saw a light like fire coming through the curtains of the portiere. And she stopped to listen, and she heard a strange music like the sound of harps. She ventured to go nearer--Suzanne is a brave girl, mademoiselle, and most virtuous--and to raise the curtain the smallest portion just to permit the glance of an eye. And--imagine what she saw."
"Well!" I exclaimed impatiently. "WHAT did she see?"
"Ah, mademoiselle, you will not believe me--but Suzanne Michot has respectable parents, and would not tell a lie--well, Suzanne saw her mistress, Madame Casimir, standing up near her couch with both arms extended as to embrace the air. Round her there was--believe it or not, mademoiselle, as you please--a ring of light like a red fire, which seemed to grow larger and redder always. All suddenly, madame grew pale and more pale, and then fell on her couch as one dead, and all the red fire went out. Suzanne had fear, and she tried to call out--but now see what happened to Suzanne! She was PUSHED from the spot, mademoiselle, pushed along as though by some strong personage; yet she saw no one till she reached her own door, and in her room she fainted from alarm. The very next morning Dr. Casimir dismissed her, with her full wages and a handsome present besides; but he LOOKED at her, Suzanne said, in a manner to make her tremble from head to foot. Now, mademoiselle, judge yourself whether it is fit for one who is suffering with nerves to go to so strange a house!"