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I rose finally I went back to him and I looked down at him

Gabrielle said so to me It was harsh and mean I didn't actually hear it I heard only the sound of it, the cadence, that is, as if her old French, so fae I didn't know

I knelt down and I kissed his hair

He didn't htest bit afraid that he would, or hopeful that he would either I kissed hiot up, and I wiped my hands on the napkin which I still had, and I went out

I think I stood in a torpor for a long while, and then so ti died in the attic, about a little ghost and about old clothes

Grasping that, clutching it tight, I ed to propel myself towards the stairs

It was there that I met you a short time afterwards Now you know, for better or worse, what I did or didn't see

And so my symphony is finished Let , I will give my transcript to Sybelle And Benji too perhaps And you may do with the rest what you will

Chapter 25

25

THIS IS NO EPILOGUE It is the last chapter to a tale I thought was finished I write it in my own hand It will be brief, for I have no drama left me and must manipulate with the utmost care the bare bones of the tale

Perhaps in some later time the proper words will come to me to deepen my depiction of what happened, but for now to record is all that I can do

I did not leave the convent after I inscribed my name to the copy which David had so faithfully written out It was too late

The night had spent itself in language, and I had to retire to one of the secret brick chambers of the place which David showed me, a place where Lestat had once been imprisoned, and there sprawled on the floor in perfect darkness, overexcited by all that I'd told David, and, more completely exhausted than I'd ever been, I went into immediate sleep with the rise of the sun

At twilight, I rose, straightened out ave Lestat a kiss of unreserved affection, just as I had the night before I took no notice of anyone and did not even knoas there