the emotions which swelled in his heart, or the cause of the sighs which heaved his breast; undoubtedly Fabian was not one who tried to lessen his grief by speaking of it, and therefore he suffered the more.
Thus we remained leaning over the sea, and as I turned my head I saw the great paddles emerging under the regular action of the engine.
Once Fabian said to me, "This track is indeed magnificent. One would think that the waves were amusing themselves with tracing letters! Look at the 'l's' and 'e's'. Am I deceived? No, they are indeed always the same letters."
Fabian's excited imagination saw in these eddyings that which it wished to see. But what could these letters signify? What remembrance did they call forth in Fabian's mind? The latter had resumed his silent contemplation, when suddenly he said to me,—
"Come to me, come; that gulf will draw me in!"
"What is the matter with you, Fabian," said I, taking him by both hands; "what is the matter, my friend?"
"I have here," said he, pressing his hand on his heart, "I have here a disease which will kill me."
"A disease?" said I to him, "a disease with no hope of cure?"
"No hope."
And without another word Fabian went to the saloon, and then on to his cabin.
