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Quote by Jean Lorrain

“Then Chameroy spoke. 'You always put the blame on opium, but as I see it the case of Freneuse is much more complicated. Him, an invalid? No - a character from the tales of Hoffmann! Have you never taken the trouble to look at him carefully? That pallor of decay; the twitching of his bony hands, more Japanese than chrysanthemums; the arabesque profile; that vampiric emaciation - has all of that never given you cause to reflect? In spite of his supple body and his callow face Freneuse is a hundred thousand years old. That man has lived before, in ancient times under the reigns of Heliogabalus, Alexander IV and the last of the Valois. What am I saying? That man is Henri III himself. I have in my library an edition of Ronsard - a rare edition, bound in pigskin with metal trimmings - which contains a portrait of Henri engraved on vellum. One of these nights I will bring the volume here to show you, and you may judge for yourselves. Apart from the ruff, the doublet and the earrings, you would believe that you were looking at the Due de Freneuse. As far as I'm concerned, his presence here inevitably makes me ill - and so long as he is present, there is such an oppression, such a heaviness...”

Quote by Jean Lorrain

Book:Monsieur de Phocas
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Monsieur de Phocas

Monsieur de Phocas is a fictional character at the center of a narrative that intertwines elements of mystery and intrigue. The story unfolds against the backdrop of a tumultuous period, with the protagonist navigating complex social and political landscapes. more

Author

Jean Lorrain
Jean Lorrain

Jean Lorrain, a French poet, is renowned for his unique style and profound emotional expression. His works often delve into themes of love, death, and art, and he is considered one of the representatives of Symbolist literature. more

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