Great Dumas originally wanted to make a few jokes, but seeing Mary's expression stiffen, he held back.
To lighten the mood, he changed the topic: "By the way, what books have you been reading lately?"
Little did he know that bringing up books would shatter the fragile composure Mary was maintaining.
"Books?" she repeated, her voice tense, as if a fishbone were stuck in her throat.
The eyes that had been striving to remain calm suddenly welled up with tears, like a floodgate had been opened.
"Alexander..." she softly called out Great Dumas's name, "You're asking me what I'm reading... but now I hardly dare touch any book. Everywhere, in the streets, in bookstores, on newsstands, in salons and theaters, there are shadows of that book 'Beatrice'."
"'Beatrice'?" Great Dumas was taken aback. He had heard of the book's name, but unless someone pointed a gun at him, he would never consider reading it in his lifetime.
