This
last book has thoroughly taken it out of me. Rest! Rest! That was
what I longed for now. My whole system seemed crying out for it. Of
all the benefits the just-accomplished work would bring, celebrity,
money, even, yes, even Lucia, seemed not so seductive in those
moments as the possibility of gratifying this intolerable mental and
physical craving for repose."
As I walked home a sense of tranquillity, a quiet, peaceful feeling
of relief was transfused through me, and seemed communicated from
the mind to the body and to every nerve of my frame, as if I were
under the influence of some soothing drug.
I reached the hotel considerably before the time I had mentioned to
Howard, and I supposed he would be out. However, as I came near I
saw that our window was well lighted up. In fact, there seemed an
unusually brilliant light in the room. Nous and I went up the
stairs. He seemed to know and feel his master's good spirits, and
kept licking my hand at intervals as he bounded up the stairs beside
me, and then outstripping me, he would wait on the landing above me
impatiently till I got there, in a hurry to race up the next flight.
As I opened my door a peculiar scent of smoke reached me, and the
air was clouded and singularly warm. Howard was in the room, and I
could not make out at first what he was doing.
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