Page:Gaston Leroux--The man with the black feather.djvu/197

Rh la Nox did not move, since he commanded without speaking, and questioned Theophrastus through the sole interpreter of his dominating will, I only learnt what his commands and questions had been from the answers of the sleeping Theophrastus. "Theophrastus began without any apparent effort or suffering:

"'Yes; I see. … Yes; I am …

"'……………………

"'I'm Theophrastus Longuet …

"'……………………

"'In a flat in Gerando Street …'

"M. de la Nox turned towards us, and said in a low voice: 'The operation is not going well. I put Cartouche to sleep; and it is Theophrastus who is answering. He is asleep in the Present. It would be dangerous to be abrupt. I am going to let him move about in the Present for a while.'

"Theophrastus began to speak again:

"'I'm in Gerando Street, in the flat above my own. I see stretched on a bed an earless man. Facing him is a woman—a dark woman—young and pretty—her name is Regina—'

"'……………………

"'The pretty young woman … whose name