" What's wrong ?" " I'm as hungry as a wolf." "It's hours before dinner !" " The road is cut off !" " My appetite isn't !" " The avalanche broke away there." " We were there the day before yesterday !" "Was it beautiful ?" " Too much snow !" " It was risking death for nothing !" " It's a risk we've been all called upon to take !" " I'd rather knit !" " Tomorrow, I'll organize a team of volunteers to clear the road." "We'll gather at 5 a.m.   a cold meal in a musettte bag , a quarter-litre of hooch, and no sluggards !" "Before dinner, Monsieur Notary, tell us the story you promised yesterday." " It's not too frightening ?" " The notary was ordered by the innkeeper to ruin our appetites!" " Tonight, the story of Michel Higelin and the Dames Blanches." " Impatient, M. Perrier ?" " I am hungry." "Beautiful lady, don't you see ?" " See what ?" " That I'm eyeing you greedily." " That will cost you extra !" " Ah !" "Here's the husband !" "A little late..." " Ah!" "The inkeekper !" "What is there to eat?" " The same thing every day !" "And with military correctness, you don't give a damn !" " Colonel !" " I promised you a surprise." " What's that ?" " Haven't you ever heard..." "Smugglers again !" "Just like in "Carmen": delightful !" " It's an area they favor, as it straddles the border !" "The man who pays customs duties is a naive." " Well, what is it ?" " Nothing, nothing at all." " Will it prevent us from having dinner ?" " Finish the story, notary !" " Where was I ?" " When the old man said to Michel: "The road - your horse knows it better..."" " At that moment footsteps were heard and a knocking at the door." " I don't like that !" " Is this the Hotel I'Abbaye ?" " Yes ?" " Do you have a room ?" " Monsieur is alone ?" "I hope so..." "Close the door !" " Do you have a problem with my hand ?" "Haven't you ever seen a one-handed man ?" " By which road did you come ?" " Does that concern you ?" " The road is cut off." " Are you certain ?" " Yes." "You have no luggage ?" " No, nothing more than this." " Is that all ?" " Where are the ruins ?" " The hotel is the same structrue as the abbey." " And the cemetery ?" " There is none ." " Has any excavation been done ?" " Monsieur is an archaeologist ?" "No." " Did you just hear two gunshots ?" " No." " Strange !" " What would I know about gunshots ?" " Monsieur will please fill in this form." "A pen !" "Don't touch that !" "Since you're going to go over my card with a fine-toothed comb, to inform yourself about me quickly:" ""Roland Brissot..." "" age 35..."" "Do you need more information than that ?" " No, Monsieur." " "Artist-painter"..." "Voile !" " Length of stay ?" " What a funny question !" "Do you know what you're doing tomorrow ?" "I don't !" "Show me to my room." "This way, Monsieur !" " What an odd fellow !" " A madman, perhaps !" " I don't want to run into him alone !" " Ladies and gentlemen !" "Have you seen a bizarre little man all in black, who was carrying a long box?" "He was shot just above here." " He fled this way !" " A traveller arrived recently but he does not fit that description." " "A... a little fellow... in black ?"" " We couldn't see him well - he was running as if his pants were on fire." " Did you come across him?" " No." " Come on, Nick, lie down !" " Would you like something to drink ?" " No, duty calls !" "Since we can't find the man I'm going to look for the box." "Good evening !" " Shall I show Monsieur to his room ?" "Dinner is about to be served." " I don't have time;" "I must go." "Where are the ruins?" " Tomorrow is another day." " For you, perhaps." "Too bad, I'll wait." "Here or elsewhere !" " Ladies and gentemen, if you wish, proceed to the tables..." " I'm not hungry any more !" " Strange !" " It wasn't the dog that he was afraid of !" " Ladies, a word of advice - lock your doors tonight!" "!" " Prunes again ?" " He's not coming down ?" " He has to eat !" "Primum vivere." " How does he paint with that hand ?" " You don't need two hands to hold a brush !" " Clemence, take the prunes !" " Yes, Maman !" " An avalanche !" " A madman !" " And prunes !" "The evening is completely spoiled !" " Will you be able to sleep ?" " In an instant, Madame !" " I'm going to sleep in my clothes !" " Shhh, here he is !" " Did he lose his hand in the war?" " What is in that package ?" " A souvenir of his wife ?" " He looks as if he uses narcotics !" "And if it was a gram of heroin ?" " M. Brissot, you're wanted on the telephone !" " I ?" " Yes, he asked for Monsieur Brissot." " But no one knows..." " He just asked for you by name, very politely." "Very politely !" "Hello !" "Hello ?" "Who is calling, please ?" "Whom are you asking for ?" "Hello !" "Again !" "What's happening ?" " Careful of the glass !" " Don't move, Mimi !" " The light !" " Clemence, where are you ?" " Candles, Mme Denis !" " Help, I'm choking on these prunes !" " The light !" " The light !" "Move over !" " Oh !" "Ah !" "Ouch !" "Ouch !" "Would you leave my nose alone ?" " Clemence, don't be afraid !" " It's none too soon !" "If I find whoever it was took such liberties with my wife..." " I got a strong kick in the backside !" " Someone twisted my nose !" " What's going on ?" " I have no idea." "A blown fuse, probably" " Hello, hello!" " The fuses are intact !" "It must have happened at the plant." "And the telephone ?" "Dead." " And that, that happened at the plant ?" " Hello ?" " They'll call back." "It happened at the plant !" " Yes, and the kick to my rear end as well ?" " I've been robbed !" "I've been robbed, who... ?" "I left it there." "Who did this ?" " We didn't see anything !" " We were in the dark ." " After those gunshots..." " But what was taken from him ?" "His box !" "It's vanished ." " I consider it essential to notify the police !" " When the blackout occurred, Monsieur was in the phone booth !" " Where are the fuses !" " They were intact." " And might Monsieur consent to tell us what the parcel contained ?" " That is highly unlikely !" " The notary's stories have accustomed us to such things !" " I can't." " The gendarmes !" "No, wait !" "The gendarmes can't do anything." "No one can do anything more for me." "Not even a gendarme." " Not even a colonel ?" " I'm afraid not." "Well, too bad !" "Listen, Messieurs !" "Believe me if you wish..." "judge for yourselves !" "The story !" "Hmm..." " No "hmm" - facts, dates !" "One date." " It began... a little over a year ago, quite recently ." "And still, when I speak of it, it seems to take me back twenty years." "I had ideas, I even had too many of them." "Ha, I painted canvases in my head !" "I wanted to render still lifes as if they were actually alive," "..to paint flowers with their parfume and vegetables with their vitamins !" "Naturally, gallery owners politely refused me  a place in their windows." "So I ate my vegetables and offered my flowers to my models.." "I told them my ideas as I lay streched across my bed, and we had golden dreams." "I became a specialist in studies of dogs..." "I acquired a certain amount of celebrity in Montparnasse." "I took care with my attire, and changed my soiled shirts every day, and affected a hairstyle that was ... individual." "People turned around to look at me on the street... notbecause of my talent, but because of how I was dressed." "But that flattered me." "One day I went into a store that sold gloves." "There were several saleswomen there." " May we help you, Monsieur ?" " I would like ..." "No." "What would Monsieur like ?" " I chose one with the certainty that is called "random."" "Mademoiselle !" " Yes, Monsieur ?" " Gloves, white ones." "But a beautiful white, with a little green." "With dark glints:" "If only we had that color !" " For what wil they be used ?" " A wedding." " In that case, we have a very handsome glove in suede..." "Excuse me for one second !" " Is that appropriate ?" "It will be a grand wedding, at the Madeleine !" "With Swiss Guards, red carpets, candles..." "lots of lights !" "And then... the bride, in a veil, nearly in a haze, her arms full of flowers." "And finally, the geometric line of the procession and the family, all of that must be conveyed in a pair of gloves !" "Do you understand ?" "What would you do in my place ?" " First, I wouldn't get married." " You don't believe in marriage ?" " Not for myself." "May I ask to see your hand ?" " Why would you do that ?" " I'll give it back to you !" " Ha, funny !" "Am I the thousandth person to whom you said that ?" " No, the first." " Thank you !" " I've been here since yesterday." " I'm glad I came today !" " I want to know your size, not your future!" " But it's not I who's getting married !" " You have a very convincing manner !" "Are you a groomsman ?" " No, I'm a painter." "I will paint the wedding !" " With white gloves ?" " No painting in white gloves !" " Ha !" " You see?" " They're not your size." " I want to symbolize with a still life whatever is alive in such a ceremony !" "Each finger will come to life as if it were a character and was about to touch the fingers of the viewing public." "Do you understand ?" " You are a great painter !" " I'm talked about in Montparnasse." " Are you also a portraitist ?" " I would do right by yours." "I began her portrait..." "and I courted her." "But I made no progress with either." "Irene was... discouraging." "And I remained there, indecisive, asking myself simultaneously what colors to use to paint her and what steps to take... or words to use to seduce her." "Everything went difficultly that year, until the feast day of Saint Irene." "Ha !" "Finally !" " Am I late ?" "An hour." "Did something happen to you ?" " No..." "Someone." " Don't worry, we spoke only of unpleasant things." "Flowers?" "What's going on ?" " It's the feast of Saint Irene !" " After a year, that's charming !" "And that ?" " That's a surprise." "What ?" "Oh !" "Gloves !" " They're suede !" " I see only that and you're serving them up to me again !" " I had thought that..." " They foisted old stock on you !" "You can return them." "It was a symbolic gift." " Yes, the Madeleine, the Swiss guard, loves, delights and organs !" " Now everyone knows our business !" " Am I speaking too loud ?" "Chef !" "Chef !" "Come here, please !" "Yes, Monsieur ?" "What is this ?" " It's inconceivable !" "A soup with too much pepper, A roast smelling of I don't know what !" " Sulphur !" " A scorched sauce and a bill that's been fiddled with !" " It's a curse, Monsieur !" " Is that your excuse ?" "What do I look like, Monsieur ?" " Upset !" " The check..." " You can stick it somewhere !" "I beg your pardon !" " You don't want to marry me ?" " Don't ask me that." " You will be my wife, my mistress, my inspiration..." " You're not lacking ideas !" " No !" "My dog gave me an extraordinary one:" "To paint life as seen by dogs." "A hallucinatory vision of the world !" "And then I paint people as seen by a horse, a lark, ...a fly, an earthworm..." " Earthworms don't buy paintings ." " Oh, me, money !" " That, certainly !" " The only worthwhile goal is glory !" " I asked someone what he thought of you, and he didn't even know you." " Someone who was jealous." " Jealous of you ?" "My poor friend !" " Friends believe in me." " There are those who call you "Never Shuts Up."" " Envious people." " Roland, go back home and take a look around:" "You will be horrified, it's a gallery of rubbish, ...you are helpless !" " Oh, you're harsh..." "You're right, you've opened my eyes!" "Until now, I was at the prey of scruples, but now I understand:" "Tomorrow, I'm going to make a what-do-you call-it of you, a great portrait !" "In three months, it will be in the Salon!" "A beutiful nude." " "The Salon in pasing..." ""...by the bedroom" !" "It's too late." "A month ago, ...you had your chance:" ""A painter, why not?" ""He has the talent, and I, the ambition !"" "How one deludes oneself !" " Just give me a few weeks !" " I don't want to be a salesgirl forever !" " What do you want ?" " Would the lady and gentleman.." "... like to order?" "It's getting late !" "We have goat." " In the form of a glove ?" " Ha, ha !" "No, a roast !" "With a puree of chestnuts, the specialty of the day !" " It's a bad day !" " But the goat, it's good !" " You don't have boar or venison instead ?" " Oh... give us whatever you wish !" " Yes, Monsieur, let me make you some new dishes !" " In life as well, you let others compose your menu:" "Don't invite anyone to dinner !" "He wouldn't have offered me gloves." " Who is "he?"" " Somone !" "He hasn't offered me anything, anyway !" " Not to marry you !" "He was a man who knew what he wanted !" "And I as well !" " What ?" " To live, and far from you !" "Let me go !" "You'll never be anything but a little painter in a little atelier, eating at little tables, ...making love to little women in little beds and you'll end your life in a little casket !" "Farewell, my little one!" " Take all that away !" "Bring me a brandy !" " A brandy for table 12 !" "And some carbonated water !" " Voile, the house brandy !" "Enjoy that for me !" "It warms the heart and it cools the mind !" "May I sit down ?" " If you wish." " Santa Madona, you drink that as if it were water !" "A votre sante !" "I don't like to see my clients unhappy !" " I'm not unhappy." " Everyone is unhappy, ...except me..." "Me, I'm very happy..." "excessively happy." " You don't appear so !" " Me ?" "But it's happiness !" " About what ?" " Simply happiness !" "Listen, I find you very congenial." "I'll sell it to you." " You're too friendly !" "Cigarette ?" " Thank you." "I make them myself." "Gosh !" "With my left hand !" "On my own I never knew how to roll a cigarette." " It's the talisman that made it possible." " A talisman for rolling cigarettes?" " Yes, Monsieur." "An extraordinary talisman !" "It bestows skills, success, talent... women !" "Everything !" "I'll sell it to you." " Your talisman gives you all that and you want to sell it ?" "I have to sell it." "Why ?" "Because.." "if don't sell it before I die, I will be damned." "Eternally damned !" " Now, now !" " And every day beneath my ovens, ...I have a foretaste of Hell !" " You don't say !" "It it was that astonishing, nothing would keep you from selling it !" "Are you asking a lot of money ?" " No !" "One sou !" " Indeed, it's not expensive." " I purchased it for two sous, but can only resell it for one sou, because it must be sold at a loss." " Funny !" " Come and see it." "It will interest you, you, an aritst !" " How do you know that ?" " It's always the talisman, Monsieur !" "Come !" "Come !" "I'll show you the way." " Don't buy it, Monsieur !" "Don't buy it !" " Quiet, you filthy caster of spells !" "Come, Monsieur !" " Don't buy it !" "Don't buy it !" " Who is that guy ?" " A poor madman !" "Ange believes that he's the guardian of the world !" "Come in !" "In here !" "Excuse the mess !" "Look !" " That's your talisman ?" " Its box, the coffin." "The thing is inside." "Don't be afraid, it won't do you any harm." "It's not only a hand, but a left hand." "In Latin, "sinistra manus."" "Sinistra..." "Look, Monsieur, admire it !" "Make a fist !" "Play the piano" "Snap the fingers." "See for yourself, Monsieur." "Don't be afraid !" " It's a weird thing !" " Buy it and you will experience  a gift, a charm, a force that leaves your own hand more expert, ...more skillful, and braver !" " Do you belive in it ?" " Why not?" "Flip an electric switch and you see light !" "The telephone rings: "A table for six !" Why not ?" "Why not, Monsieur ?" " There's no connection !" " I owe it my genius as a cook." " A genius that your customers seem to doubt !" " But Monsieur, when Hell is watching you, you no longer feel like doing anything more:" "I'm always thinking that I'm going to die... unless it's sold !" "If not, my soul will boil for all of eternity !" " Chef, come on !" " The time has come for me to sell it... one sou !" " Everyone to his trade !" " The hand can help all, Monsieur !" "For a musician, ...incomparable fingering !" " And for painters ?" " Take it, and you will create a Mona Lisa even more beautiful than the original!" " It's... it's stupid, but it's not expensive." " Thin of it !" "Health, success, and fortune, love !" "Buy it, Monsieur, buy it !" " Don't buy it !" "Don't buy it !" "Everything for just a sou !" " Alright !" " Santa Madonna !" "Lord Jesus, heaven pardon me !" "I haven't hidden anything from you, eh?" "Do you understand ?" " That I'm going to lose a sou, yes." " Sell it before you die or..." " Hell ?" " Hush !" " I don't believe in either God or the Devil !" " Quiet !" "If he hear us..." " He has time on his hands !" "Here's the sou, take it !" " Wait !" "Give me your left hand, sinistra manus." "And with your other hand, give me the sou and say:" ""I'm buying it from you."" " Ha, what a bizarre drama !" "Say it !" "Say it !" " I am buying it from you." " Ha !" " What happened ?" " The power has passed to you." "I knew it." " Are you in pain ?" " It's a good thing, a relief." "Here, take it !" " Listen, Monsieur... there is in all of this something..." "I'm returning your box; it was a joke." " A joke, my dead hand, gone ?" "Ha, ha !" "Too late, Monsieur !" "Having been freed from it, to buy back my hand ?" "Don't be ridiculous !" "Thank you, Santa Madona !" "Now, leave with your spells !" "And never again set foot here !" "Get thee behind me, Satan!" "Go away !" "Leave, leave !" "Hey, Tim ?" "What's the matter with you ?" "Don't you know me ?" "He ran away as if the Devil were at his heels !" "Monsieur !" "M. Brissot !" " Hmm ?" " Well, M. Brissot, what happened to you ?" " What is it ?" " It's me." "I came to dust and found the door open." "I said to myself:" ""I'd better wake him up." I was worried !" " I'm not ill." " Apparently last night , ...you made a racket, moved around the furniture, talked to yourself, and dragged your feet around." " I no longer remember any of it." " It's musty in here." " I'm going to open..." " Leave it !" "Good !" " Is Monsieur Brissot there ?" "Hello !" "Hello ." "But what do you have ?" " Me?" "Nothing ." " I forgot:" "A man  came, plump with a head like a loaf of sugar, for you." " For me ?" " The police ?" "Non, more likely a bailiff." "Wait, he's still there, come and see !" " Maybe he's an art dealer !" "Fortune comes while you're asleep !" "I don't know him." " What's this box ?" "Is that for me ?" " No." " What's inside ?" " Let go of it !" " What a brute !" "You hurt me !" " I'm sorry, it's a deposit." " Keep your secrets !" "Eight days ago you were incapable of wrapping a package for me:" "Are you making fun of me?" "Perhaps." "Did you paint last night ?" "Me ?" "Oh, yes !" " It's strange !" "Is that a cloister ?" " You see it !" "In the Alps." "It looks to be." " Do you know the mountain ?" " Not at all..." "I imagined it." "It's astonishing !" "What a dreadful night !" " I don't much believe in the softness of the moonlight." " And this shadow behind the pillar, ...whom is it threatening ?" " I don't know." " You don't know what you wanted to depict ?" "And that, what is it ?" " It looks like the Pont-Neuf." " On the same night." " The same moonlight." " What is the man in the felt hat holding ?" " A knife." " And on the knife ?" "It's blood." " And again the same shadow behind him !" "Enough !" " But it's very beautiful !" "I was right to force you to work!" "Kiss me !" " I didn't work for you !" " What's wrong with you ?" "I have the right to be proud of you." "Take them to Gibelin !" " Gibelin has never taken anything from me." " Sign it, I'll take care of it !" "Don't bother with anything else." "You men don't know how to get by !" "Are you painting with your left hand ?" "Are you left-handed ?" " It's an old habit." "Tell me, Irene... to be damned... does that mean anything to you ?" " Hmm ?" "I was fixing my hair." "What were you saying ?" "Nothing." " Have you finished ?" "How did you sign it ?" ""Maximus Leo?"" "Why "Maximus Leo?"" " I don't know !" "I signed it that way without thinking." " What a funny pseudonym !" " Careful, it's not dry." " Let me do it." "I'm starting to believe that you're becoming very clever !" "You can rest easy." "They're going to pay for the merchandise !" ""The Moonlight, The Shadow, and the Knife."" "It's not my hand." "Irene !" "My box !" " I beg your pardon a thousand times !" "I was disracted." "I'm sorry." "Here, young man !" "Take one of my little leaflets." "Advice is valuable, and two opinions are better than one." "Straight ahead !" "The entire man is in his hand." "The hand of man is in that of God." "Behold the hand of Alexander, that of Hannibal, that of Napoleon." "If they had known !" "The hand of Pasteur, that of the assassin Franzini..." " And those two there?" " Those two form only one - Romeo and Juliet." "The past, the present, the future, eternity ?" "Forty francs for them all." "The past." " Is your memory so short ?" " My hand has had so long a life !" "Give it to me." "Get out !" "Get out !" "Don't ever set foot here again !" " Is Monsieur satisfied ?" "This way to the exit, if you please !" " That impresses you !" " It's by little Brissot ?" " Now hurry, or we're going elsewhere !" " Wait !" "Grangier, come here !" "The prince of critics !" " Mademoiselle !" " What do you think of this ?" " Oh, good lord !" ""Maximus Leo" ?" "Don't know him !" " Alias "Roland Brissot!"" "The painter of perfumes and vitamins !" " We're starting from scratch !" "For a revelation, it's preferable !" " I've brought it back to you." " How did you find it ?" " It's my profession." "It's done, sold !" " What ?" " What do you wish it to be ?" "At Gibelin, they ask that of others." "Irene." "Your'e going to stay here." " Yes." " Tonight I'm going to work on your portrait." "Yes." " And you'll never leave me." "Whatever hapens." "No." " The weeks passed so quickly that we scarcely even noticed." "A year later, ...to the day, the gallery Gibelin opened the first show of the the young painter Maximus Leo." "It was truly a beautiful ceremony." "Eminent personalities were in attendance." "An official procession of members of the Institute of Tired Poets, ...women of the world..." "And lastly, all of Paris society and... and the idle rich." "And also many people who had come for the buffet." " The hieroglyphics of poetry..." " Yes..." "Excuse me !" "Long live M. Gibelin !" "It's a deal, it's a deal !" " I had been the first to believe in you, to understand that you would be a success!" " Are you happy ?" " Very." " Not jealous ?" " Jealous ?" " Of my success." " But it's mine as well, my dear !" "You said to me: "You will be my wife, my mistress, my inspiration."" "Thanks to me, you are what you are !" " But what am I ?" "Listen to them, they're coming to tell you." " This breath of profundity !" " Surrealistic horizons !" " A composition of the absolute..." " An old bag said..." ""All this with his left hand !"" " I'm passing for disabled !" " You're foolish, Gibelin is right !" " So, lovers, ...are you content?" "How far you've come!" "Thanks to me !" " With a little thanks to me, no ?" " To you, to me, thanks to us!" "Grangier, come !" "This is M. Maximus Leo, whose work you admire so much !" "M. Grangier, whose criticism you admire." " I salute the king of the celebration !" " And here is his queen !" " Doubly:" "It's her feast day." " Saint Irene, that's me." " Congratulations !" "The spirituality..." " You're very kind !" "And my show ?" " An event." " This grand piece." " It has a foreknowledge of the past..." " 50000 !" "The musketeer ?" " There, the pursuit of the dramatic..." " 15000." " That's all ?" " It's a bit small." " Monsieur !" " Pop the cork, so it will make noise !" " I'm ashamed to be seen naked in front of these people." " With nothing on ?" " Yes, in the painting !" " Bravo, bravo !" "Charming !" " It's the most beautiful gift you could have given me for my feast day !" "Are there others ?" " A mystery !" " Where are they ?" " Nothing in the hands, ...nothing in the pockets !" "This evening, the two of us, at home, ...the shutter closed, the curtains pulled shut..." " To your health, Madame !" " Thank you !" " Thank you, Gibelin !" "Ah, impromptu, to the health of Irene :" "Her father was not the king, he was from Suresnes, her mother from Charleroi." "But her soul is my queen and her body is my king." "It's unpretentious, but nice !" "It doesn't seem so !" "Yes ?" " Wait, friend !" "Do you see that little fellow down there ?" "When that sort of provincial notary becomes interested  in a painting of which he understands nothing whatsoever, ...it's glorious." "He knows you, then ?" " Just a minute !" " Bravo, my dear !" " Congratulations !" " What is it you wanted to do, you little rascal ?" " Excuse me !" " Cocktails at Cocteaus !" " What is that ?" " A commission, Monsieur." " Who ordered it from you ?" " A little man in black." ""To be delivered to the church of Saint Irene."" "It's funny, one is truly..." " Yes, I know." " Would Monsieur like anything ?" " No, goodbye !" " At your service !" " I don't know what happened." "He's not with you ?" "Ah, here he is !" "I'll call you back." "I looked for you everywhere, mad with worry !" "Where were you ?" " I don't know." " What ?" "Gibelin is furious." " I went for a walk.I had enough of those people who don't know what painting is who speak of it, who live it !" " Now that you have succeeded..." " Oh, success !" " It's what you struggled for." " Irene !" " Yes ?" " We have to leave." " Leave ?" " Yes." "I feel that we must leave." "Let's go, I don't know... to the country." "It doesn't matter where we go !" " It doesn't matter where ?" " Do you love me, are you happy ?" " Put your arms around me !" "Yes." " Could you give up all this, ...And Paris, and the luxury ?" " Have you done something bad ?" " No." " Have we become poor ?" " No, we're rich, but we have to go ." " Wherever you wish !" " Thank you." "Let's leave tonight." " Tonight ?" "But my surprise, and the party you promised ?" " I was looking forward to that, like you, but it's too late." "Get ready!" " If I undress, we're not leaving." " I will be courageous." " For two ?" " What is this ?" " A man is waiting for Monsieur in the study." "It's a madman !" "Perhaps !" "Ah !" " I beg your pardon." "I wanted so much to get to know you." " I, as well, Monsieur !" "Happy feast day !" " What do you want from me, why have you been spying on me, and lurking around ?" " Amusing language from a debtor to a creditor !" " Do I owe you something ?" " A small thing... your soul !" "I also come to make its acquaintance, ...as a property owner comes to see his harvest." " So, you will..." " The devil is not always at the door of a poor man !" "This is impossible !" " But everything is possible." "It is one year ago today that you bought the hand." "I am therefore authorized to think  that your soul will come to me after your death." "The man who pays his debts becomes rich, and he who says nothing, consents." " But I do not consent!" "First my soul:" "One does not sell what one does not know !" " The law is strict:" "What doesn't exist, can't be sold !" " Are you a lawyer ?" " Men have always sought to swindle me !" "Resign yourself !" "One sou:" "You will not be able to sell it any cheaper." " There are centimes." " That is no longer the exchange rate." "Be delighted that you have found a connoisseur for this tiny part of yourself, in which you do not believe." " A moment ago, no." "A moment ago, I didn't believe in you, either !" "And here you are !" " And even a little there !" " Well..." "I've told myself that life is short." "And that damnation is eternal." " A good run is better than a bad stand !" "Happiness on earth, that's important." " But eternity !" " Your awkward situation touches me." "Do you want to buy your soul back from me ?" " Are you playing games with me ?" " No, I'm a good devil !" " How much ?" " One sou." " Voile !" " Be careful !" "If you return the hand to me, you'll lose your precious advantages." " Ha ?" " You're a man who's made it, ...master of a beautiful woman for whom everyone envies you, but tomorrow... you will go back to being a little failure." "Of course, that requires reflection." "So, take your time." "Reflect." "But I am not a philanthropist." "We are going to make a ltitle deal, today one sou, tomorrow two sous and then in succession: 8 sous, 16 sous, 32 sous, 64 sous, 128, 256, 512," "...1024, until infinity." "Do you know what infinity is ?" "I do, I've been there." "It's very nice." "Voile !" " Is the hand really in there ?" " Don't you trust me ?" " I've learned not to trust men !" "Yes, it's fine" "I thank you." " No, don't thank me yet." "Is your soul worth a mediocre and wasted life ?" "I beg your pardon !" "I believed you were finished with Monsieur !" " Please introduce me." " An old friend of the family, ...my wife !" " She is charming !" "My fraternal compliments !" " We saw him a year ago from the atelier." " Please !" " What ?" " Leave me alone !" " Do you want to wrap this box up again ?" "Don't worry, Madame, ...I'l leave you both to your happiness !" "But allow me to make this contribution to your feast day." " This is not for me, it's not possible!" "Oh, a black diamond !" "Please." "So, this package ?" " You no longer know how to wrap a package ?" " For the love of God, leave me in peace !" " Well ?" "Are you keeping it ?" "No !" " As you wish." "Poor little one !" "I feel sorry for you." " Goodbye, Monsieur, and thank you again !" "Roland, don't remain there like a soul in pain !" "A thousand thanks!" " It's really nothing, madame, there are plenty left in the ground it came from." "See you soon !" "Look !" " Give me that ring !" " Why?" " It carries evil." " You're crazy !" " I don't want it." "Are you jealous ?" "Irene !" "Tell me that you believe in me, that you love me !" " Just like that, on command ?" " Don't you want me to embrace you ?" " Do it and I will detest you ." "Listen to me !" "My hand..." "My hand that caressed you, my hand that painted you... it was not my hand, it was not me, it was a gift, a talisman." "It was the hand in the box." " It's not posssible, you're drunk !" " From champagne." " Charming anniversary !" " So, I'm returning it to you ?" " Yes !" "You're right." "She's charming, your wife !" "A beautiful sinner !" "Her soul interests me:" "Give it to me in exchange and I will consider your debt paid forever." " Do you want me to kick your teeth in ?" "Don't forget, it doubles !" " And for how many days ?" " Three weeks, doctor." "It began the night of my feast day." "I'm very worried." " What are the symptoms ?" " Obessions." "Money:" "He spends the entire day figuring out his expenses in notebooks." "He marks off the days with crosses." " Due dates !" " I don't believe so !" "He locks himself in his room:" "For three weeks, he's been sleeping in a separate room." "And he talks to himself." "It doubles !" " Yesterday, doctor, he accused me of being an evil spirit." "He wanted to strangle me." " Strangle you ?" " Yes, doctor." "Afterward he begged my forgiveness, but I was so afraid that he would not become..." " Listen to that !" " He is so excited !" " Calm down !" " No, don't come in, leave me in peace!" "What do you want ?" " Good evening, M. Brissot !" "Your wife is anxious about your health..." " It's for me that she made you come !" "She believes that I'm mad." "It's neither my body nor my mind that is in danger, but my soul, ...do you understand ?" "And I am not mad !" "Ha, finally, you're here !" " You desired my presence ?" "I've been expecting you ." " So...have you reflected ?" "Yes !" " Have you made a decision ?" " Yes !" "You can take back your talisman !" " You no longer need it ?" "And your paintings ?" "The acclaim ?" " I got to know the art dealers" "Now that I have a name, whether I paint with my right hand or my left, it's the same thing." " And your wife, you're not afraid of losing her ?" " My wife... alas, I lose her a little every day." "She's afraid of me." "To sell my soul without keeping my body ?" "Who's there ?" " Are you coming to dinner ?" " No." "I'm not hungry." "Do you need me ?" " No !" " As you wish..." "Do you have money ?" "Yes, I have money." " Today's the 23rd, isn't it?" "Let's count." " How much is that in francs ?" "And 20 centimes." " I'll write you a check." " No." "It's Saturday." "At this hour, the banks are closed." " I anticipated that." "I have cash." "Someone has opened my box !" "Two thousand francs are missing !" "That's not possible !" "Irene !" "Where is the money ?" " Hmm ?" "What money ?" " Two thousand francs are missing." " It's I who took them." " You did that ?" " For my furrier." " Don't you realize ?" " You're mad !" " Stop, you're hurting me, the money is there !" " How... ?" " Yes, the furrier didn't come, ...it's in the drawer !" " How much is left ?" " 15000." "Saved." "I have the money !" "Wait !" "700..." "Voile !" "8,20 francs are missing !" "How do you know that ?" "It's my business." "Yes." "Well, I'm going to look for them for you:" "The chambermaid !" "Pardon me !" "Midnight ?" "That's not possible !" "And yet... !" " Twelve o'clock... zero minutes ... 40 seconds." " Time seems short to you in my company!" "But listen, ...it's no longer 209715,20 francs that you owe me, but 419430,40 !" "Until tomorrow !" "Don't forget !" "It doubles !" "Irene !" "Irene !" "Irene !" "Irene !" "Irene !" "400000 francs. 400000 francs !" "I repeat this figure to myself while walking through the streets." "While leafing through directories, while telephoning  friends who are never there." "No friends..." " Monsieur is not in !" " No, Monsieur !" "800000F !" "800000F !" "800000F !" "The sum increased always, implacably, mathematically !" "Encouraged by the smile of the shopkeeper, ...I tried the National Lottery, alas !" "There remained Melisse, the restaurateur who sold me the talisman." "Everywhere closed doors,closed faces..." "they were closed, too !" "One day, alone, I abandoned myself to despair... when..." "Hello !" "Who?" "Irene ?" " Yes, it's me." "I knew that you needed money, ...that you were looking for it everywhere." "I have it for you." "Yes, a lot !" "Don't ask me how !" "Hello ?" "There's someone on the line !" "Hang up, Monsieur !" "Hello, do you hear me ?" "A lot of money." "Come and meet me, I have my old room at..." "...the Hotel du Poirier, Number 23." "Can you hear me alright ?" " Yes, Madame, strangled !" "One can count all the fingers." "A young woman very well turned out !" " Has anyone been arrested ?" "Imagine !" " The room was pillaged !" " You can't come in, Monsieur !" " The police are in the house, Monsieur." " "Cannes, Nice, Monte Carlo:" ""Spend the winter on the Cote d'Azur."" "What ?" " It's in the newspaper." " Publicity !" " No, it's advice." "Good advice, which you should take." "Go to Monte Carlo, you can stay in Nice at ...the Hotel du Palmier Nain, and ask for M. Verdure, the owner." "He has a betting system for roulette !" "It will make you money !" "It's your last chance !" "Who are you ?" " Don't you remember the dishwasher from Chez Melisse a little over a year ago ?" "My name is Ange." "Do you remember ?" "Ange !" " I lost another day with the inquest, and when I arrived in Monte Carlo, I owed the little sum of 6510886,40 francs !" "Place your bets !" "Attention, the bets have been placed !" "Nothing more on the table !" "17 black, odd and in a low slot !" "I won !" "The chips ...piled high in front of me !" "People hurried to my table, ...believing that I carried luck." "I was going to escape from this nightmare !" "When one woman at my table..." " How suddenly it became cold !" "The bets are placed !" "Nothing more on the table !" " Nothing was working anymore, indeed." "The bets were placed !" "And I lost until my last centime under the pitiless rakes of these gardeners in dinner jackets !" "I left the gaming room like a ghost." "A gambling inspector believed that I was going to blow out my brains." "Don't worry, I don't even have the means to kill myself !" "Are you an employee of the casino ?" " Yes, we will give you whatever you need to get home." "Where do you live ?" " In..." "In Nice, at the Hotel du Palmier Nain." " A charming residence !" " You find it so, at the height of carnival ?" " But monsieur, aren't you at the age for laughter and games?" "Return to Nice." "You will meet there an amiable person in costume who will not be too sensible." " I don't have the heart for that !" " A wound caused by money is not mortal." "Believe me, Monsieur !" " What can be done ?" " Men are connected !" "Links in a chain of mysterious workings:" "A damaged link damages the following one !" "A chain !" "It's curious that you mentioned that word !" "I should also form part of a chain, reduced to several men." "But they.. they were happy, they benefitted from their  superhuman advantages, while I, the last link, I have to pay !" "Is that just, in the name of God ?" " Do not blaspheme !" "Take your place in the ring of masks !" "Package !" " Did Monsieur win ?" " No." " Lose a lot ?" " Everything." " Your key." "Have a late dinner without troubling yourself, you paid for a week in advance." "Monsieur !" "You don't plan on doing anything stupid ?" "That is not tolerated here." " Don't worry, I don't even have the right to die." " Go into the dining room and have a look, there are very funny masks !" " Good evening, Roland Brissot !" "Here we are, all present , my lords and myself, all the former owners of the talisman." " We, the links in the chain." " Joined like the fingers of a hand." " You appealed to us, and we responded." " To play a trick ?" "I'm in for it !" " We're not yet too rusty !" "1, 2, 3, 4, hup !" " Your servants, I and my invincible sword !" "I was a musketeer of the king." "It was on the eve of a duel that cowardice took hold of me, ...I bought at the home of a rascal of an alchemist that damned talisman ." "From then on I was invincible, the hand clashed swords for me, and there was no adversary I couldn't kill !" "Until the day, alas..." "when I let myself provoke and kill my best friend." "So I got rid of the hand to the benefit of a theiving beggar... who prowled on the Pont-Neuf." "I was that nondescript beggar." "Thanks to the hand, I became the greatest thief and counterfeiter of my time." "I accumulated an immense fortune without profiting from it." "What amused me was the taking, the stealing..." "...the creation of counterfeit money." "My reputation as a thief grew to the point that His Majesty entrusted me with his finances." "Until the day that the good people got angry and I paid for my skill with my life." "But I had had the time to pass the hand to a certain master of juggling." "And I became the greatest juggler of my epoch." "I had always loved balancing." "Provided with a mysterious power, I soon became the greatest of my epoch and kings came to see me." "One day, ...at the Spanish court, I was asked to juggle with eggs." "I don't know what mad impulse suddenly took hold of me." "I was hanged after having been subjected to the strappado." "Before that happened, I had had the time to foist off the hand..." "It was I who bought it." "And I became the greatest illusionist of my time." "I summoned ghosts, I made tables speak, ...I put astonished audience into trances." "One day I put the daughter of a prince into a trance but was unable to revive her." "The prince ordered me beheaded." "But before the execution a surgeon wanted to buy  my body." "I sold him my hand." "I was that surgeon." "The poor bodies that all their lives had suffered until dying became for me a wonderful field for expreriments." "Thanks to me, ...surgery evolved with new operations." "One day, I allowed myself to try an experiment on a woman whom I loved." "And I killed her myself." "I sold the hand for a few sous to my young laboratory assistant." "I was that young assistant." "It was the beginning of boxing." "At the Fair of Trune, I amazed the passersby." "My manager, ...who was not a philanthropist, taught me that with strength and good publicity, one could earn a lot of money." "He taught me the rudiments of boxing, breathing, legwork which would insure victory." "Finally came the fighting, the great fights under the light of the reflectors with the shouts of the crowd, and the glory." "World champion !" "Not for long, alas !" "Little by little I became blind, and in the course of a fight I knocked a referee senseless." "That began my being destitute." "Still, I had to live." "For a long time..." "...I sold vegetables from a little barrow." "I sold the hand to a restaurateur." "Santa Madona !" "Melisse !" " The hand saved me immediately." "In a great competiton for all the chefs, ...I won the gold medal, which gleamed like a saucepan, and my restaurant became celebrated." "But the fear of damnation pursued me." "Fortuantely one evening a poor devil of a painter came in who was heartsick." " I was that poor devil of a painter and I fought to buy back my soul." "This evening I owe more than six million francs." "It is very close to midnight." " We are here to help you, each according to his means:" "We will not rest..." " So long as this hand might damn you!" " But each day, it doubles !" " It is we who must win the ransom of his soul." " A musketeer ?" " An illusionist ?" " A juggler ?" " Even a world champion ?" " A chef ?" " I am here !" "Salute, gentlemen, the twentieth century, the epoch of the thief!" "Armed robbery, fraud, burglary, blackmail, gangs the black market !" "Let me Do it!" "I will print money!" " Come, fellow, do you intend to teach me my business ?" "Am I supposed to settle for this monkey money ?" "Me, the Devil ?" "Believe me, Roland Brissot, give up !" "Your time has come." " Hey, Sir Devil, not so quickly !" "My alchemist !" " Nothing can be hidden from you !" " You're hiding something :" "The owner of the hand !" " But, I..." " Where is he, from whom we have all benefitted ?" " I know who he is." "He signed my paintings "Maximus Leo."" "What ?" "Maximus Leo !" " Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth !" "I was born in the year of our Lord 1422, son of an Alpine woodcutter, ...Maxime le Lion." "The Carthusian monks of Saint-Bruno raised me and I was very young when I entered the abbey of Allevard in the Dauphine under the name of Maximus Leo." "The Lord had blessed my left hand with a power." "It was able to make you the best of your time !" " But I lived in the mountains." "And he boasts about it !" " All my life, a little man dressed in black lurked near me to tempt me and to buy my power." "But this hand remained placed next to the other, joined in prayer." "Then he came to find me in the silence of the tomb." "He cut off my hand and stole it from me !" " Zounds !" "And it was I to whom he sold it !" "Thief !" " Ingrates, was it better to settle for being timid, naive and dissatisfied ?" " At the cost of your soul !" " No." "The contract that each of you agreed to with him had no value !" "He did not  sell you anything, the Devil himself couldn't sell anything that didn't belong to him!" "And he knew it !" "Thief!" "Thief!" "I am saved!" " I am saved." " Your soul is saved." " Monk, forgive me and take back your hand." " No." "Let it go back through the course of ages until it reaches me!" "Rest in peace!" "Rest in peace!" "Rest in peace!" "Rest in peace!" "Rest in peace!" "Rest in peace!" "Rest in peace!" "Rest in peace!" "Ha !" " Roland Brissot, you are the only one still living of our circle of shades." "We are only appearances." "My soul has pardoned you, but my body remains mutilated." "Carry his hand back to his tomb in the Dauphine." "You will be freed from the last link of the chain !" " In the morning I found myself alone." "On the table were seven empty place settings, ...the bottles were overturned, the chairs moved around as if many assistants had passed through there." "And in place of my left hand, I had only a stump, ...a pain throbbing throughout my arm." "On the ground, in the place where I had seen the monk, I picked up the fossilized and desiccated hand that had been his." "I returned it piously to the box." "Since then I have been searching these mountains for the tomb of the friar Maximus Leo to return it to his mortal body and to grant him eternal rest." " And it is that box that was quickly stolen !" " And around us, an entire invisible world !" " Well, Monsieur, all the same, you are not going to make us believe ...that in the twentieth century..." "Denis, what do you think of this ?" " We in the mountains don't view things so simply !" " And you, Colonel ?" " Your account, Monsieur, ...is fishy, but very clear !" "Since your soul has escaped from this menace, you have become very calm !" " Monsieur, I am the only man alive who swindled the little man !" "And he does not forgive those who have offended him !" "My soul is saved, that's true, but not my life !" "Not my body !" "He is pursuing me !" "He will kill me as he killed Irene !" "Remember what the customs agents said:" "The man at the coffin, ...is him." "He's there !" " Let's go !" " Don't open it, don't open it !" " It's the wind, the branches ...of the great fir tree !" " Don't go !" " Auguste !" " It's no more the devil than is fire on my hand !" "There on the door !" "The imprint of a hand !" "With what could one do that ?" " There he is !" "Over there !" "There he is !" "He's knocking into everything !" "He saw something !" " I felt a current of hot air around my legs !" " He has the Devil on his tail !" " Where's he going ?" " He does not have a clear conscience !" "There he is, down there !" " How he runs !" " Whom is he with ?" " With a little man." " They're fighting !" "Good Lord !" " What happened ?" " My God !" " Let's go !" " Come on !" " I'm staying here, I can't see this !" " Is he dead ?" "Dead." "A fractured skull !" " Poor devil !" " Have you heard ?" "He's dead, the poor wretch !" " Oh !" "Look, it's the box !" "It's empty." " Look !" "It's a grave." "Bring your lantern closer, Denis !" ""Maximus..." ""Leo."" " It's the grave of a monk !" "The cycle is closed." "The last link in the chain has joined the first." "Sous-titrage MFP."