from Philippina's bed, which stood next to the door.

The lamp had almost burned down; it gave so little light that the bed
clothes could hardly be seen.

She stole up to Philippina's couch of repose, step by step, without
making the slightest noise, bent down, stretched out her arm, groped
around over the body of the inexplicable creature who was sleeping
there, and was on the point of raising the covers and reaching for
Philippina's breast. Philippina ceased snoring, woke up as if she had
been struck in the face by the rays of a magic lantern, opened her eyes,
and looked at Dorothea with a speechless threat. Not a muscle of her
face moved.

Dorothea collected her thoughts instantly. With the expression on her
face of one who has just succeeded in carrying out some good joke, she
threw her whole body on Philippina and pressed her face to her cheek,
nauseated though she was by the stench of her breath and the bed
clothes.

"Listen, Philippina, the American wants to give you something," she
whispered.

"Jesus, you're punching my belly in," replied Philippina, and gasped for
breath. When Dorothea had straightened up, she said: "Well, has he
already given you something? That's the main thing."

"He gave me the feathers. Isn't that something?" replied Dorothea, "and
he is going to give me a set of rubies."

"I wish you already had 'em. It seems to me that your American don't
exactly hail from Givetown. I've been told that he ain't so damn rich
after all. When are you goin' to meet him again, your lover?"

"To-morrow evening, between six and seven. Oh, I am so glad, so glad,
Philippina. He is so young."

"Yes, young! That's a lot, ain't it?" murmured Philippina
contemptuously.

"He has such a pretty mole on his neck, way down on his neck, down
there," she said, pointing to the same spot on Philippina's neck. "Right
there! Does it tickle you? Does it make you feel good?"

"Don't laugh so loud, you'll waken little Gottfried," said Philippina in
a testy, morose tone. "And get out of here! I'm sleepy."

"Good-night, then, you pesky old dormouse," said Dorothea, in seemingly
good-natured banter, and left the room.

Hardly had she closed the door behind her when Philippina sprang like an
enraged demon from her bed, clenched her fist, and hissed: "Damned
thief and whore! She wanted to rob me, that's what she did, the dirty
wench! You wait! Your days in this place are numbered. Somebody's going
to squeal, believe m