little constitutional while the stars are still clear.'
" 'And you're watching,' I said. I was horrified. 'What do you want of us?'
" 'You're going to be enormously impressed with my generosity, but I have been eternally known for my generosity and my cleverness.'
" 'Try me,' I said. I was almost too angry to talk sense.
" 'Very well,' he said. 'I've done a great deal of thinking about you, and this island which we both claim. I've come to the conclusion that I want to share the Hermitage with you. That is, I'll allow you to use it by day and I shall use it by night as has been my custom.'
" 'By night? You come there only by night?' This was almost unendurable.
" 'Of course. Why do you think you found the candles, and the ashes in the fireplace? I have no use for it by day, but I don't want others troubling it ever. I'm to find no evidence of others when I come. Except for evidence of you. Your books, your papers, things like that. Now for the most important part of the bargain. You're to improve the Hermitage. You're to take it to a new level of excellence. Do you follow me?'
"He had loosened the grip just a little. I could breathe without it hurting. But he had me as firmly as ever, and my left arm, my good arm, was aching. I was paralyzed with fury.
" 'The improvements are key,' he said. 'You're to take care of them, and then we will both enjoy it happily. You'll never know I'm there perhaps. Oh we can share the books we read. We can grow to know each other. Who knows, we may come to be friends.'
" 'What improvements?' I said. Obviously the creature was insane.
" 'First off I want it thoroughly cleaned,' he said, 'and the gold on the sarcophagus, it has to be cleaned and polished.'
" 'Then it is gold,' I said.
" 'Most assuredly,' he responded. 'But you may tell your workmen it's brass if you like. Indeed, tell them anything about the entire island which will keep them away.'
" 'But who was the grave intended for?'
" 'You need never concern yourself with that, and never open it again either.' The voice came soft as breath. 'Now let's return to the Hermitage. You're to have electric wiring installed throughout the place.'
" 'You've been reading my mind, haven't you?' I asked.
" 'Then I want glass fitted in all the windows, glass that opens and closes. I'm not particular as to the design, just so that the night can be seen and felt and the rain kept out of the interior. The flooring should be laid both in the first and second story-something of marble tile like the tile in your entranceway would be most excellent, though I think that it should be all white with a dark grout.'
" 'Good God,' I said, 'you have been reading my mind. Who are you?'
" 'Have I? I do have a gift for it. And handsome lamps should be purchased as well as marble tables such as that which is there already. And fine gold chairs in the Roman style, and couches. You know. I leave it to you, the taste of such things -- you've been born to and bred on fine things -- and you shall see that it's all correct.'
" 'This is a game to you, isn't it?' I asked. I was breaking into a cold sweat.
" 'Not entirely,' he said. 'I want these improvements. And I want the privacy afterwards. I want it all from you.'
" 'And you're serious.'
" 'Well, of course I am,' came the low, hushed voice. 'Now what else do I propose? Ah yes, a better fireplace, don't you think, for the bitter cold Louisiana nights in winter of which outsiders know so little.'
" 'How did you manage to spy on me? From what vantage point?'
" 'Don't be so sure that I did. I'm cunning. You wanted to reclaim the place. I know the style in which you live. I want to be friends with you, don't you see? It's nice having my arms around you. I offer peace if you do these things. If you needed wealth for it, I'd oblige.'
" 'And your part of the bargain is to leave the place entirely alone by day?'
" 'Yes,' he said, 'and not to kill you. That's the most impressive part -- that I'll let you live.'