athe Chantelouve, and is this a meditated vengeance, or does
she count on the fear of danger to spur our senses?

"After all, I think it is probably a final coquetry, an appetizer before
the repast. And women are so funny anyway! She probably thinks these
delays and subterfuges are necessary to differentiate her from a
cocotte. Or perhaps there is a physical necessity for stalling me off
another day."

He sought other reasons but could find none.

"Deep down in my heart," he said, vexed in spite of himself by this
rebuff, "I know I have been an imbecile. I ought to have acted the cave
man and paid no attention to her supplications and lies. I ought to have
taken violent possession of her lips and breast. Then it would be
finished, whereas now I must begin at the beginning again, and God damn
her! I have other things to do.

"Who knows whether she isn't laughing at me this very moment? Perhaps
she wanted me to be more violent and bold--but no, her soul-sick voice
was not feigned, her poor eyes did not simulate bewilderment, and then
what would she have meant by that _respectful_ kiss--for there was an
impalpable shade of respect and gratitude in that kiss which she planted
on my hand!"

She was too much for him. "Meanwhile, in this hurly-burly I have
forgotten my refreshments. Suppose I take off my shoes, now that I am
alone, for my feet are swollen from parading up and down the room.
Suppose I do better yet and go to bed, for I am incapable of working or
reading," and he drew back the covers.

"Decidedly, nothing happens the way one foresees it, yet my plan of
attack wasn't badly thought out," he said, crawling in. With a sigh he
blew out the lamp, and the cat, reassured, passed over him, lighter than
a breath, and curled up without a sound.

CHAPTER XI

Contrary to his expectations, he slept all night, with clenched fists,
and woke next morning quite calm, even gay. The scene of the night
before, which ought to have exacerbated his senses, produced exactly the
opposite effect. The truth is that Durtal was not of those who are
attracted by difficulties. He always made one hardy effort to surmount
them, then when that failed he would withdraw, with no desire to renew
the combat. If Mme. Chantelouve thought to entice him by delays, she had
miscalculated. This morning, already, he was weary of the comedy.

His reflections began to be slightly tinged with bitterness. He was
angry at the woman for having w