La Vénus d'Ille

The story opens with a weary traveler descending the slopes of the Canigou, drawn toward the quiet town of Ille. He is guided by a chatty Catalan who points out the wealthy household of Monsieur de Peyrehorade, where a festive wedding is being arranged. Yet the narrator's curiosity is captured not by the celebration but by rumors of an ancient copper idol unearthed beneath an old olive tree.

The antique dealer who discovered the statue describes its flawless, half‑nude form and the eerie white eyes that seem to stare back at anyone who gazes upon it. As the locals discuss whether it is a pagan relic or a Roman votary, a sense of unease settles over the group, hinting that the object may hold a darker secret. Listeners are invited to follow the narrator into Ille's winding streets, where history, superstition, and the looming presence of the mysterious idol intertwine.