Page:Twenty Thousand Verne Frith 1876.pdf/510

 THE

LAST

WORDS

OF

CAPTAIN

NEMO.

251

Another halfhour—a half-hour of nightmare not to think. would drive me mad. At that moment I fancied I heard the distant notes of the organ, asad harmony, like the wail of a soul which I listened intently, longed to break its earthly bonds. scarcely breathing, plunged, like Captain Nemo, in one of those musical ecstacies which lead one beyond the limits of this world ! Then a sudden idea terrified me. Captain Nemo had left his room.

He was in the saloon, and I must cross it to

He There I might meet him for the last time. escape. A gesture of his would see—would speak to me, perhaps. could annihilate me ; a word, chain me to the ship for ever!

It was on the stroke of ten! The moment had come to leave my room and join my friends. It would not do to hesitate, for fear that Captain Nemo I opened the door of my room care. should anticipate me. fully, and yet it seemed to make a great noise as I opened it ; perhaps this noise only existed in my imagination. I then crept along the dark passage, pausing at each step I reached the door of the to still the beating of my heart. The room was perfectly saloon, and opened it very gently. dark : the organ sounded faintly. Captain Nemo was there I really believe that had there been and had not seen me. light in the room, he would not have noticed me, so absorbed

was he in his music. I crept along the carpet, avoiding the least contact that would

have

betrayed my

presence.

It took me fully five

I minutes to gain the door, which opened into the library. was about to open it, when a deep sigh from Captain Nemo glued me to my place. J could perceive that he was rising from the instrument, for some rays of light filtered into the He came towards me with folded arms, silent, room.