s everything must come to an end in this world, they were obliged
to discharge him, when he was quite cured, and the Superior gave him
twenty-five francs in return for his services.

As soon as Pavilly found himself in the street with all that money in his
pocket, he asked himself what he was going to do. Should he return to the
village? Certainly not before having a drink, for he had not had one for
a long time, and so he went into a cafe. He did not go into the town more
than two or three times a year, and so he had a confused and intoxicating
recollection of an orgie, on one of those visits in particular, and so he
asked for a glass of the best brandy, which he swallowed at a gulp to
grease the passage, and then he had another to see how it tasted.

As soon as the strong and fiery brandy had touched his palate and tongue,
awakening more vividly than ever the sensation of alcohol which he was so
fond of, and so longed for, which caresses, and stings, and burns the
mouth, he knew that he should drink a whole bottle of it, and so he asked
immediately what it cost, so as to spare himself having it in detail.
They charged him three francs, which he paid, and then he began quietly
to get drunk.

However, he was methodical in it, as he wished to keep sober enough for
other pleasures, and so, as soon as he felt that he was on the point of
seeing the fireplace bow to him, he got up and went out with unsteady
steps, with his bottle under his arm, in search of a house where girls
of easy virtue lived.

He found one, with some difficulty, after having asked a carter, who did
not know of one; a postman, who directed him wrong; a baker, who began to
swear and called him an old pig; and lastly, a soldier, who was obliging
enough to take him to it, advised him to choose _La Reine_.

Although it was barely twelve o'clock, Pavilly went into that palace of
delights, where he was received by a servant, who wanted to turn him out
again. But he made her laugh by making a grimace, showed her three
francs, the usual price of the special provisions of the place, and
followed her with difficulty up a dark staircase, which led to the first
floor.

When he had been shown into a room, he asked for _la Reine_, and had
another drink out of the bottle, while he waited. But very shortly, the
door opened and a girl came in. She was tall, fat, red-faced, enormous.
She looked at the drunken fellow, who had fallen into a seat, with the
eye of a ju