sit down beside the
fire, in this chair. I station myself, facing her, on this stool.
Advancing a little, touching her knees, I can seize her. I make her bend
over. I am supporting her whole weight. I bring her lips to mine and I
am saved!

"--Or rather lost. For then the bother begins. I can't bear to think of
getting her into the bedroom. Undressing and going to bed! That part is
appalling unless you know each other very well. And when you are just
becoming acquainted! The nice way is to have a cosy little supper for
two. The wine has an ungodly kick to it. She immediately passes out, and
when she comes to she is lying in bed under a shower of kisses. As we
can't do it that way we shall have to avoid mutual embarrassment by
making a show of passion. If I speed up the tempo and pretend to be in a
frenzy perhaps we shall not have time to think about the miserable
details. So I must possess her here, in this very spot, and she must
think I have lost my head when she succumbs.

"It's hard to arrange in this room, because there isn't any divan. The
best way would be to throw her down on the carpet. She can put her hands
over her eyes, as they always do. I shall take good care to turn down
the lamp before she rises.

"Well, I had better prepare a cushion for her head." He found one and
slid it under the chair. "And I had better not wear suspenders, for they
often cause ridiculous delays." He took them off and put on a belt. "But
then there is that damned question of the skirts! I admire the novelists
who can get a virgin unharnessed from her corsets and deflowered in the
winking of an eye--as if it were possible! How annoying to have to fight
one's way through all those starched entanglements! I do hope Mme.
Chantelouve will be considerate and avoid those ridiculous difficulties
as much as possible--for her own sake."

He consulted his watch. "Half-past eight. I mustn't expect her for
nearly an hour, because, like all women, she will come late. What kind
of an excuse will she make to Chantelouve, to get away tonight? Well,
that is none of my business. Hmmm. This water heater beside the fire
looks like the invitation to the toilet, but no, the tea things handy
banish any gross idea."

And if Hyacinthe did not come?

"She will come," he said to himself, suddenly moved. "What motive would
she have for staying away? She knows that she cannot inflame me more
than I am inflamed." Then, jumping from phase to phase of the s