The Detective of Dreams
Herr D— calls on a detective in the hope of engaging him in a matter of public concern. He relays a tale that captivates the seasoned investigator. The detective agrees to take the case and waive his fee, but Herr D— promises riches if he succeeds in finding and eliminating a man he names the Dream-Master.
Leaving for his home country, Herr D— gives the detective his calling card and a handsome sum of money. The investigator identifies the man as Baron H—, chief of a neighboring nation’s secret police. The Baron flushes at being identified.
The detective departs Paris and crosses the Alps by train to reach the capital city of the Baron’s homeland. He strolls through the medieval town and comes across a shopping arcade. He enters, seeking out a vintage clothing dealer, Fraulein A—, whom the Baron mentioned in his story.
Fraulein A— agrees to sit with the detective and describe her troubling and recurring dream. She recalls walking along a dark road and passing through an iron gate to enter a luxurious garden in the shadow of a great palace. Following the sound of music, Fraulein A— crosses the threshold and joins hundreds of well-dressed guests enjoying a sumptuous banquet in a great hall. The host arrives, dressed like a king and wearing a strange crown. Fraulein A—, ashamed of her pedestrian attire, rises to greet him. The man signals to several men, who seize Fraulein A— and escort her to the door. Before waking, the woman hears the sound of a beast prowling the garden.
Certain that she has seen the host in the waking world, Fraulein A— gives the detective a description of the Dream-Master.
The detective visits the private bank of Herr R—, identifying himself as an emissary of the Baron and offering to parse the man’s disquieting dreams. The banker promises the investigator remuneration for apprehending the man who stalks him in sleep. Herr R— mentions that the Dream-Master appears to him as a bearded man in his thirties with an injured hand.
The banker relays his dream, wherein he finds himself in a mansion issuing directions to a large staff. Herr R— understands that the owner of the home is unmarried but keeps his mother on the property. While reviewing the estate’s accounts, the banker is summoned to the Dream-Master. The man reviews a ledger and orders Herr R— to discharge a large debt or face termination. Destitute, the banker drops to his knees and pleads poverty. The Dream-Master holds out a bloodied hand to accept payment before agreeing to forgive the balance owed. The banker rushes to his quarters, where he encounters a well-dressed servant who owes him a large sum. Herr R—, grabbing the man by the throat, demands settlement. The Dream-Master confronts the banker, who hears wild sounds and sees a reptilian claw emerge through an opening door. Shaken, Herr R— confides in the detective that more of the monster is exposed each night.
