her as you would feel it. But I found her more alluring than any woman I'd known in mortal life. Even in the severe dressing gown, her arms and breasts were round and soft; and she seemed to me an intriguing soul clothed in rich, mysterious flesh. I who am hard and spare and dedicated to a purpose, felt drawn to her irresistibly; and, knowing it could only culminate in death, I turned away from her at once, wondering if when she gazed into my eyes she found them dead and soulless.
"`You are the one who came to me before,' she said now, as if she hadn't been sure.'And you are the owner of Pointe du Lac. You argil' I knew as she spoke that she must have heard the wildest stories of last night, and there would be no convincing her of any lie. I had used my unnatural appearance twice to reach her, to speak to her; I could not hide it or minimize it now.
"'I mean you no harm.,' I said to her.'I need only a carriage and horses... the horses I left last night in the pasture.' She didn't seem to hear my words; she drew closer, determined to catch me in the circle of her light.
"And then I saw Lestat behind her, his shadow merging with her shadow on the brick wall; he was anxious and dangerous.'You will give me the carriage?' I insisted. She was looking at me now, the lamp raised; and just when I meant to look away, I saw her face change. It went still, blank, as if her soul were losing its consciousness. She closed her eyes and shook her head. It occurred to me that I had somehow caused her to go into a trance without any effort on my part.'What are you!' she whispered.'You're from the devil. You were from the devil when you came to met'
" 'The devil!' I answered her. This distressed me more than I thought I could be distressed. If she believed this, then she would think my counsel bad; she would question herself. Her life was rich and good, and I knew she mustn't do this. Like all strong people, she suffered always a measure of loneliness; she was a marginal outsider, a secret infidel of a certain sort. And the balance by which she lived might be upset if she were to question her own goodness. She stared at me with undisguised horror. It was as if in horror she forgot her own vulnerable position. And now Lestat, who was drawn to weakness like a parched man to water, grabbed her wrist, and she screamed and dropped the lamp. The flames leaped in the splattered oil, and Lestat pulled her backwards towards the open door.'You get the carriage!' he said to her.'Get it now, and the horses. You are in mortal danger; don't talk of devils!'
"I stomped on the flames and went for Lestat, shouting at him to leave her. He had her by both wrists, and she was furious.'You'll rouse the house if you don't shut up!' he said to me.'And I'll kill her! Get the carriage... lead us. Talk to the stable boy!' he said to her, pushing her into the open air..
"We moved slowly across the dark court, my distress almost unbearable, Lestat ahead of me; and before us both Babette, who moved backwards, her eyes peering at us in the dark. Suddenly she stopped One dim light burned in the house above.'I'll get you nothing!' she said. I reached for Lestat's arm and told him I must handle this.'She'll reveal us to everyone unless you let me talk to her,' I whispered to him.
"'Then get yourself in check,' he said disgustedly.'Be strong. Don't quibble with her.'
"'You go as I talk... go to the stables and get the carriage and the horses. But don't kill!' Whether he'd obey me or not I didn't know, but he darted away just as .I stepped up to Babette. Her face was a mixture of fury and resolution. She said,'Get thee behind me, Satan.' And I stood there before her then, speechless, just holding her in my glance as surely as she held me. If she could hear Lestat in the night she gave no indication. Her hatred for me burned me like fire.
"'Why do you say this to me?' I asked.'Was the counsel I gave you. bad? Did I do you harm? I came to help you, to give you strength. I