VIII. Live! Live the wonderful life that is in you!

[epigrammatical]

[AUDIO, public. The morning after the event ends and Tu Vishan starts moving again.]

I am not alone, I gather, in detecting a change in the air here. It is rather like waking on the very first day of the Season, with all the possibility that lies ahead—or waking the morning after the last day, with the happy knowledge that one need not be at home to anyone that day. We have, I suppose, escaped the fate of Des Esseintes's tortoise.

---

[AUDIO, private to Dorian Gray.]

I have finished Mr Findley's novel, Dorian. A most marvellous book; quite gorgeous and affecting.

But I must ask you, dear boy—is what he writes about Oscar true?

[He's already guessed that it is. This is less a real question than the confirmation of a sense of creeping dread.]

Comments

[video]

[epigrammatical]

And yet one docks the ears and tail of a dog, or adorns a horse with finery. Is that so different from a horse?

[Does he believe what he says? As always, it's open to debate.]

[video]

[poeticverses]

Since one does not permanently affix finery to a horse, yes. I wouldn't know about dogs.

[video]

[epigrammatical]

A fair point. Nevertheless, I find that I prefer to think that des Esseintes's mistake was not in the adornment, but in a general incompetence insofar as the care of another living being is concerned.

[video]

[poeticverses]

That, I thought, went without saying. He should have never been allowed to own a tortoise in the first place. I shudder to think of what he might have done if he had children.

[video]

[epigrammatical]

Were he to have lived, it would perhaps be as well that his family line—like so many decadent aristocratic lines—is so attenuated as to be nearly extinct. You'd agree that he is hardly a shining example of vitality.

[video]

[poeticverses]

True enough. Nature will eventually weed out the undesirable.

[video]

[epigrammatical]

Ah, you would no doubt be interested in the work of Mr Charles Darwin, perhaps. His key work is somewhat after your time.

[video]

[poeticverses]

What work did he do?

[video]

[epigrammatical]

He was a man of science who put forth some remarkable and controversial theories about the natural world, and the evolution of animal species. His theories are, I believe, rather in line with your observation on the work of nature.

[OOC: a related thing.]

[video]

[poeticverses]

Oh, science and whatnot is much more in line with Combeferre's interests than mine. I simply observe things. He desires to study them.

[video]

[epigrammatical]

Well then, if one of Mr Darwin's books washes up here, I shall be certain to call it to his attention.

[video]

[poeticverses]

He will no doubt appreciate it. Thank you, Henry.

[video]

[epigrammatical]

Of course. I hope you are well, Jehan.