She had picked up one of the little
couples and was tenderly dusting it with a feather broom.
What I had just seen and heard had so deepened my compassionate interest
in my deluded friend that I took a summary leave, making my way directly
to the house designated by this remarkable woman. It was in an obscure
corner of the opposite side of the town, and presented a sombre and
squalid appearance. An old woman in the doorway, on my inquiring for
Theobald, ushered me in with a mumbled blessing and an expression of
relief at the poor gentleman having a friend. His lodging seemed to
consist of a single room at the top of the house. On getting no answer
to my knock, I opened the door, supposing that he was absent, so that it
gave me a certain shock to find him sitting there helpless and dumb. He
was seated near the single window, facing an easel which supported a
large canvas. On my entering he looked up at me blankly, without
changing his position, which was that of absolute lassitude and
dejection, his arms loosely folded, his legs stretched before him, his
head hanging on his breast.
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