Pagina 149 de 1294

He rose to his feet, looked round in wonder as though surprised

at finding himself in this place, and went towards the bridge. He

was pale, his eyes glowed, he was exhausted in every limb, but he

seemed suddenly to breathe more easily. He felt he had cast off

that fearful burden that had so long been weighing upon him, and

all at once there was a sense of relief and peace in his soul.

"Lord," he prayed, "show me my path--I renounce that accursed...

dream of mine."

Crossing the bridge, he gazed quietly and calmly at the Neva, at

the glowing red sun setting in the glowing sky. In spite of his

weakness he was not conscious of fatigue. It was as though an

abscess that had been forming for a month past in his heart had

suddenly broken. Freedom, freedom! He was free from that spell,

that sorcery, that obsession!