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got up and waited； listening always to the noise； which gradually
increased； and at intervals grew very loud； and which seemed to
become an impatient； angry disturbance； a mysterious commotion。
Then； suddenly； ashamed of my timidity； I seized my bunch of
keys。 I selected the one I wanted； guided it into the lock；
turned it twice； and pushing the door with all my might； sent it
banging against the partition。
The collision sounded like the report of a gun； and there
responded to that explosive noise； from roof to basement of my
residence； a formidable tumult。 It was so sudden； so terrible； so
deafening； that I recoiled a few steps； and though I knew it to
be wholly useless； I pulled my revolver out of its case。
I continued to listen for some time longer。 I could distinguish
now an extraordinary pattering upon the steps of my grand
staircase； on the waxed floors； on the carpets； not of boots； or
of naked feet； but of iron and wooden crutches； which resounded
like cymbals。 Then I suddenly discerned； on the threshold of my
door； an armchair； my large reading easy…chair； which set off
waddling。 It went away through my garden。 Others followed it；
those of my drawing…room； then my sofas； dragging themselves
along like crocodiles on their short paws； then all my chairs；
bounding like goats； and the little foot…stools； hopping like
rabbits。
Oh！ what a sensation！ I slunk back into a clump of bushes where I
remained crouched up； watching； meanwhile； my furniture defile
pastfor everything walked away； the one behind the other；
briskly or slowly； according to its weight or size。 My piano； my
grand piano； bounded past with the gallop of a horse and a murmur
of music in its sides； the smaller articles slid along the gravel
like snails； my brushes； crystal； cups and saucers； which
glistened in the moonlight。 I saw my writing desk appear； a rare
curiosity of the last century； which contained all the letters I
had ever received； all the history of my heart； an old history
from which I have suffered so much！ Besides； there were inside of
it a great many cherished photographs。
SuddenlyI no longer had any fearI threw myself on it； seized
it as one would seize a thief； as one would seize a wife about to
run away； but it pursued its irresistible course； and despite my
efforts and despite my anger； I could not even retard its pace。
As I was resisting in desperation that insuperable force； I was
thrown to the ground。 It then rolled me over； trailed me along
the gravel； and the rest of my furniture； which followed it；
began to march over me； tramping on my legs and injuring them。
When I loosed my hold； other articles had passed over my body；
just as a charge of cavalry does over the body of a dismounted
soldier。
Seized at last with terror； I succeeded in dragging myself out of
the main avenue； and in concealing myself again among the
shrubbery； so as to watch the disappearance of the most cherished
objects； the smallest； the least striking； the least unknown
which had once belonged to me。
I then heard； in the distance； noises which came from my
apartments； which sounded now as if the house were empty； a loud
noise of shutting of doors。 They were being slammed from top to
bottom of my dwelling； even the door which I had just opened
myself unconsciously； and which had closed of itself； when the
last thing had taken its departure。 I took flight also； running
toward the city； and only regained my self…composure； on reaching
the boulevards； where I met belated people。 I rang the bell of a
hotel were I was known。 I had knocked the dust off my clothes
with my hands； and I told the porter that I had lost my bunch of
keys； which included also that to the kitchen garden； where my
servants slept in a house standing by itself； on the other side
of the wall of the inclosure which protected my fruits and
vegetables from the raids of marauders。
I covered myself up to the eyes in the bed which was assigned to
me； but could not sleep； and I waited for the dawn listening to
the throbbing of my heart。 I had given orders that my servants
were to be summoned to the hotel at daybreak； and my valet de
chambre knocked at my door at seven o'clock in the morning。
His countenance bore a woeful look。
〃A great misfortune has happened during the night； Monsieur；〃
said he。
〃What is it？〃
〃Somebody has stolen the whole of Monsieur's furniture； all；
everything； even to the smallest articles。〃
This news pleased me。 Why？ Who knows？ I was complete master of
myself； bent on dissimulating； on telling no one of anything I
had seen； determined on concealing and in burying in my heart of
hearts a terrible secret。 I responded：
〃They must then be the same people who have stolen my keys。 The
police must be informed immediately。 I am going to get up； and I
will join you in a few moments。〃
The investigation into the circumstances under which the robbery
might have been committed lasted for five months。 Nothing was
found； not even the smallest of my knickknacks； nor the least
trace of the thieves。 Good gracious！ If I had only told them what
I knewIf I had saidI should have been locked upI； not the
thievesfor I was the only person who had seen everything from
the first。
Yes！ but I knew how to keep silence。 I shall never refurnish my
house。 That were indeed useless。 The same thing would happen
again。 I had no desire even to re…enter the house； and I did not
re…enter it； I never visited it again。 I moved to Paris； to the
hotel； and consulted doctors in regard to the condition of my
nerves； which had disquieted me a good deal ever since that awful
night。
They advised me to travel； and I followed their counsel。
II。
I began by making an excursion into Italy。 The sunshine did me
much good。 For six months I wandered about from Genoa to Venice；
from Venice to Florence； from Florence to Rome； from Rome to
Naples。 Then I traveled over Sicily； a country celebrated for its
scenery and its monuments； relics left by the Greeks and the
Normans。 Passing over into Africa； I traversed at my ease that
immense desert； yellow and tranquil； in which camels； gazelles；
and Arab vagabonds roam aboutwhere； in the rare and transparent
atmosphere； there hover no vague hauntings； where there is never
any night； but always day。
I returned to France by Marseilles； and in spite of all its
Provencal gaiety； the diminished clearness of the sky made me
sad。 I experienced； in returning to the Continent； the peculiar
sensation of an illness which I believed had been cured； and a
dull pain which predicted that the seeds of the disease had not
been eradicated。
I then returned to Paris。 At the end of a month I was very
dejected。 It was in the autumn； and I determined to make； before
winter came； an excursion through Normandy； a country with which
I was unacquainted。
I began my journey； in the best of spirits； at Rouen； and for
eight days I wandered about； passive； ravished； and enthusiastic；
in that ancient city； that astonishing museum of extraordinary
Gothic monuments。
But one afternoon； about four o'clock； as I was sauntering slowly
through a seemingly unattractive street； b