Still, Steve could see George and Napoleon III standing in the stables of the estate. Several lanterns hanging from the lower beams dimly lit the cubby area surrounded by tack equipment. The faces of George and his newly discovered father appeared odd in the shining red, yellow, and at times blue light of the dancing flames.

George whispered, “Are you a guest here? Here where Adele Foucher Hugo is staying? These people aren’t your friends are they?”

“What, you think supposed enemies can’t socialize. And how do you know who visits here?”

“Sando De Carlos is a friend and he is a guest here for the weekend.”

“Are you sure that it is not the daughter of Sando De Carlos who is the friend? I’ve met her.  She is very pretty, but I fear with the company that she keeps her life will be tragic.”

“I’ve not met the daughter; or the wife. I met him in the park a few months ago and we entered into a discussion on how awful you will be for France. He said Louis Napoleon might be a good man but with the company he keeps the future of France will be tragic.”

“I should kill you on the spot as I did to your mother on the day she summoned me to her room in the brothel.”

“So it is clear. We are enemies.”

“The master of Sitnalta will not allow us to be enemies.”

“I do not know of this master of Sitnalta. I only know that you are a man that is natural for me to hate and only if you change or I change can that fact be changed.”

“So this night we will part as enemies. But if it is the will of the master for us to know one another as father and son, that will be how we part in the future.”

There were sounds of footsteps outside the stable and then a woman’s voice. “George, is that you.”

Napoleon III stated, “Yes Adele, George is standing here with me.”

“Louis, I thought it was your voice I heard with George. What are you two doing?”

“Discussing how I will be tragic for France.”

“I’ve told you Louis, don’t take the intellectual types too seriously.”

          “Intellectual! Is that what you are George? Is it your brains that attracts people like Adele to you?”

“Now Louis, you assume too much.”

“I assume nothing; especially not the support of these people you call intellectuals. Understand, my very conception was planned so that I would rule France. I’d not even let my own son, legitimate or bastard, stand in the way of my destiny.”

Louis Napoleon III made a quick exit from the shadow of the stables and back into the mansion where he would sleep this night in a room among rooms filled with people he despised. In his sleep, as always he would return to the sanctuary called Sitnalta. He hoped this time he would not encounter George.

Once sure they were alone Adele told George. “Does he know enough to scandalize me?”

“No, he does not, but he would not do that even if he could.”

“You are welcome to visit inside the mansion as my guest. I know that Sando De Carlos and Salavie are both very fond of you. Tell me, now that we have agreed to never explore our passions together again, will you try to seduce Salavie.”

“She is too young and her father would kill me.”

“Too young.  She is only a year younger than you. Still, never mind. Who is it that you now fancy?”

“There is someone at the art school that I think would be interesting if they would open up to me.”

“Yes, I heard there are a couple of new rich students at the school.”

“And beautiful. The Southern United States must have something marvelous in the water to help breed so much sex appeal.”

As Steve listened he became upset.  “That George is planning on seducing my Gurdy.” And no sooner had the thought crossed his mind than the red haired man stood before him. Steve shook in anger. “You said that George is involved with a married man.”

Red laughed.  “You think I am stuck on this lower astral plane because I am an honest man. But George is involved with Sando De Carlos. They just aren’t having sex together.”

“So George is attracted to Gurdy.”

“There are two new students.  Maybe he is not talking about Gurdy. Course, the other student is male.”

“Don’t start that again.”

“Look, you don’t belong on this plane. Wish Gurdy well, no matter what happens. Wish George well.”

“I do wish them well.  I just have these feelings.”

“I know. I have not even been able to leave this astral plane in I don’t know how long because my feelings are so confused.”

“What is it about you and George?”

“I love Adele and I hate my brother. George made me happy because he made Adele happy at the expense of my brother. When I was alive, having Victor Hugo as my brother drove me crazy.”

        Steve began to fade back to a higher realm as he calmed down. He watched as George and Adele left the stables and ran toward the mansion in a slight drizzle of rain.