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THE COUNTERFEITERS

8

Closing time! Everyone goes off. The play is ended. Do you understand? Something which gives the impression of the end of everything--of death... but without mentioning death, of course."

"Yes, I see it all perfectly," said Olivier, who was thinking of Bernard and had not listened to a word.

"And that's not all," went on Lucien, enthusiastically; "I should like to have a kind of epilogue and show the same garden path at night, after everyone has gone, deserted and much more beautiful than in the day-time. In the deep silence; all the natural sounds intensified--the sound of a fountain, and the wind in the trees, and the song of a night-bird. First of all, I thought that I'd bring in some ghosts to wander about--or perhaps some statues--but I think that would be more common place. What do you say?"

"No, no! No statues, no statues!" said Olivier absentmindedly; and then, seeing the other's disappointed face: "Well, old fellow, if you bring it off, it'll be splendid!" he exclaimed warmly.

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