This taxed my courage;
but after a moment of sheer fright, I let myself go--I had to--and
immediately found myself standing upright in a space so narrow I
could touch the walls on either side. It was a closet I had
entered, opening, as I soon discovered, into the huge dining-hall
where I had once sat beside my father at the one formal meal of my
life.
I remembered that room; it had made a great impression upon me,
and some light finding its way through the panes of uncurtained
glass which topped each of the three windows overlooking the
ravine, I soon was able to find the door leading into the drawing-
room.
I had brought a small lantern in the bag slung to my shoulders,
but I had not hitherto dared to use it on account of the
transparency of the panes I have mentioned; but once in the
perfectly dark recesses of the room beyond, I drew it out, and
without the least fear of detection boldly turned it upon the
small alcove where stood the object of my adoration.
It was another instance of the reckless confidence of youth. I was
on the verge of one of the most appalling adventures which could
befall a man, and yet no premonition disturbed the ecstasy with
which I knelt before the glimmering marble and unrolled my bundle
of wet clay.
I was not a complete fool. I only meant to attempt a miniature
copy, but my presumption led me to expect it to be like--yes,
like--oh, I never doubted it!
But when, after a few minutes of rapturous contemplation of the
proportions which have been the despair of all lesser adepts than
the great sculptor who conceived them, I began my work, oh, then I
began to realise a little the nature of the task I had undertaken
and to ask myself whether if I stayed all night I could finish it
to my mind.
Pages:
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227