The Phantom of Vendée(1)

at that moment, she heard a long sigh, hauntingly carried on the silent night breeze, almost whispering in her ear. It bore the tone of a child, yet the air was entirely not something a kid of that age would produce.

"Trepidation seized her as she timidly lifted her gaze and locked eyes with those bluish-tinged pupils. Those eyes seemed to burn with anger, scorching on a ghastly pallid face as they stared directly at her. In an instant, her scalp tingled, and she couldn''t help but flee, running for her life. Breathless and terrified, she dared not stop, fearing as if at any moment an icy tiny hand would seize her from behind, clutching at her throat.

"From that day forward, she never dared to sneak out again to rendezvous with that man. The following year, she married - of course not the beau with whom she had tumbled in the hay - and bore a series of babies. Like all women of her class, she transformed into an ordinary peasant woman, broad-shouldered and full-waisted.

"One day, her five-year-old youngest daughter - that is our maid who tells this story - was running errands for her mother in another village. On her way back, the playful little girl got carried away and ended up getting lost. Vendée was covered in dense forests, and as night grew deeper and dead silence reigned, the trees all transformed into gruesome specters. The rustling sound of stepping on leaves became indistinguishable; she couldn''t tell whether it was her own footsteps or those of lurking wild beasts. The little girl was too terrified to cry, could only keep shaking the basket in her hand, creating some noise to keep herself company.

"Fortunately, she gradually recognised the outlines of Comte de La Garnache''s castle, and there seemed to be faint lights emanating from a window on top. Once the little girl found herself back on a familiar path, she let out a sigh of relief, and her fear all at once dissipated considerably.

"However, as she passed by