When
the playing began a beautiful panorama unfolded before him--the
regular notes in the music enhancing the beauty, and changes in
the scenes, which he described as a most wonderful kinetoscopic
display.
In fact, only De Quincey or Bayard Taylor or Poe could have done
justice to the thrilling effects of the drug, and not even they
unless an amanuensis had been seated by them to take down what
they dictated, for I defy anyone to remember anything but a
fraction of the rapid march of changes under its influence.
Indeed, in observing its action I almost forgot for the time
being the purpose of our visit, so fascinated was I. The music
ceased, but not the visions.
Senora Mendez advanced toward us. The spangles on her net dress
seemed to give her a fairy-like appearance; she seemed to float
over the carpet like a glowing, fleecy, white cloud over a
rainbow-tinted sky.
Kennedy, however, had not for an instant forgotten what we were
there for, and his attention recalled mine. I was surprised to
see that when I made the effort I could talk and think quite as
rationally as ever, though the wildest pranks were going on in my
mind and vision. Kennedy did not beat about in putting his
question, evidently counting on the surprise to extract the
truth.
"What time did Senor Guerrero leave last night?"
The question came so suddenly that she had no time to think of a
reply that would conceal anything she might otherwise have wished
to conceal.
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