ses of her nature lay bare to him. But he loved her, loved her:
all the dead weight of his physical craving for her was on him again,
confounding, overmastering. None the less, she had left him; she had no
need for him; and the hours would come, oftener and oftener, when she
could do without him, when, as now, she voluntarily sought the company
of other men. The thought suffocated him; he rose to his feet, and
hastened out of the house.

A little before one o'clock, he was stationed opposite the sideentrance
to the HOTEL DE PRUSSE. He had a long time to wait. As two o'clock
approached, small batches of people emerged, at first at intervals,
then more and more frequently. Among the last were Herries and Louise.
Maurice remained standing in the shadow of some houses, until they had
parted from their companions. He heard her voice above all the rest; it
rang out clear and resonant, just as on that former occasion when she
had drunk freely of champagne.

With many final words and false partings, she and Herries separated
from the group, and turned to walk down the street. As they did so,
Maurice sprang out from his hiding-place, and was suddenly in front of
them, blocking their progress.

At his unexpected apparition, both started; and when he roughly took
hold of her arm, Louise gave a short cry. Herries put out his hand, and
smacked Maurice's down.

"What are you doing there? Take your hands off this lady, damn you!" he
cried in broken German, not recognising Maurice, and believing that he
had to deal with an ordinary NACHTSCHWARMER.

The savageness with which he was turned on, enlightened him. "Damn
you!" retorted Maurice in English. "Take your hands off her yourself I
She belongs to me--to me, do you hear?--and I intend to keep her."

"You drunken cur!" said Herries. He had instinctively allowed Louise to
withdraw her arm; now he stood irresolute, uncertain how she would wish
him to act. She had gone very pale; he believed she was afraid. "Isn't
there a droschke anywhere?" he said, and looked angrily round. "I
really can't see you exposed to this ... this sort of thing, you know."

Louise answered hurriedly. "No, no. And please go! I shall be all
right. I'm sorry.--I had enjoyed it so much. I will tell you another
time, how much. Good night, and thank you. No ... PLEASE!> ... yes, a
delightful evening." Her words were almost inaudible.

"Delightful indeed!" said Herries with warmth. Then he stood aside,
raised