Page:Edward Prime-Stevenson - The Intersexes.djvu/355

 So I've had to find out some amusements. I have been making love-philters here. Reutler, my big brother! your medical books have given me some perfectly extraordinary recipes! Ah, I haven't lost my time up here!" He made a face." And what about your fiancée, Marie? Is she running around the countryside, still?"

A dull sound could be heard, like that of distant artillery, or a storm.

"Yes—I have found her", replied Reutler with an ironical gesture; "she is down below. She is well—very well, too. And she has released me from my promise. So I shall never marry."

Paul-Eric stretched himself out voluptuously, and draped himself in the Japanese silk-stuff, taking care however to uncover his breast as he did so.

"Hand me the rest of my philter there, so that I can clear my brains" he said. "You look queerly yourself, Reutler," he murmured.

Reutler, holding the glass, was trembling.

"Will you allow me to taste it?" he asked.

"What, you? In my glass? Really you are scandalous this morning!" He burst out laughing. "If you do that, I warn you that you'll do a stupid thing, my big brother! One of my wonderful little powders is in there—and—and—between ourselves, Reutler, do you need it?"

Reutler, with one spring, was at the dormer of the room, and threw the cup out into space. "No!" Paul exclaimed angrily,—"It is disgusting! I've done well to trust your-loyalty! Have you any right to concern yourself with my dreams—? Good God, no more champagne for me then, no more of my aphrodisiac; and you will propose to me cold baths or a gallop in the forest?".. Paul-Eric interrupted himself, to spring up in his turn—with a cry; he had just perceived the large red patch under his brother's shirt-sleeve. "Reutler, what is that—on your shoulder?"

"Nothing," replied Reutler hesitatingly. "I did not care to tell you—but I've been in a fight … the servants have been behaving like mutineers—they seem to think that I am going crazy—they have wanted to shut me up—like you here—me! Nothing but that. My beloved, do not be disturbed. They have been putting leeches on me, before the last douche—I've escaped from their claws, though—escaped to take refuge up here with you, you see. Don't be afraid—I'm not mad!"

Paul shook his fists in the air.

"Oh, the dogs! The brutes! The vile beasts! Now I'm not