-A young friend of mine who is a teacher in Germany was also desperate to get to Ireland these days, I wonder… I have heard of Brian O' Donnel, I think he is the author of that famous painting with the people singing and dancing on a bridge, Irish Music, it's called, if I am not mistaken. But you don't know the owner of the gallery who send you the letter, n'est-ce pas?

- No, I don't. It is just... Oh, I feel so stupid saying this. I guess the fact that it came from Ireland, a place I have always wanted to visit, was enough. And then, you know, my husband had so many friends I don't know nothing about. Maybe I will know something more of him if I go there and talk to this Sean Cannon and see the pictures. You know the last thing he did before boarding on that fatal plane was to buy a picture from a young Swedish artist, he loved art so much! Maybe I can buy one of the O' Donel's pictures to have some beautiful souvenir, and if the old painter showed up and turned out that he knew my husband and we could talk for a while, well, that would be...

The woman paused and looked at the French gentleman with a shy smile.

- You must think it is all a mad story.

- Not really, I think it is very... comme on dit? adventurous? I would also like to chase a dream around Europe.

The gentleman smiled sadly and then continued talking.

- My wife, whom you might have seen at the station, is very sick. She is in the carriage now, sleeping. We moved to the South of Spain a few years ago, because of the climate, you see. But she wants to die at home.

- I am so sorry, I didn't know...

- Oh, please, don't feel bad. It has helped me a lot to talk to you. You must have thought I was crazy approaching you like that. But Cécile hardly speaks these days, she is just determined to survive until we get to Paris and doesn't want to waste any breath. I feel lonely.

- She is also chasing a dream.

The woman pressed the gentleman's hand and they were both silent.

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