ke any other, undressing in a man's room. Memories of similar scenes
overwhelmed him. He remembered girls who like her had crept about on the
carpet so as not to be heard, and who had stopped short, ashamed, for a
whole second, if they bumped against the water pitcher. And then, what
good was this going to do him? Now that she was yielding he no longer
desired her! Disillusion had come even before possession, not waiting,
as usual, till afterward. He was distressed to the point of tears.

The frightened cat glided under the curtain, ran from one room to the
other, and finally came back to his master and jumped onto his knees.
Caressing him, Durtal said to himself, "Decidedly, she was right when
she refused. It will be grotesque, atrocious. I was wrong to insist, but
no, it's her fault, too. She must have wanted to do this or she wouldn't
have come. What a fool to think she could aggravate passion by delay.
She is fearfully clumsy. A moment ago when I was embracing her and
really was aroused, it would perhaps have been delicious, but now! And
what do I look like? A young bridegroom waiting--or a green country boy.
Oh God, how stupid! Well," he said, straining his ears and hearing no
sound from the other room, "she's in bed. I must go in.

"I suppose it took her all this time to unharness herself from her
corset. She was a fool to wear one," he concluded, when, drawing the
curtain, he stepped into the other room.

Mme. Chantelouve was buried under the thick coverlet, her mouth
half-open and her eyes closed; but he saw that she was peering at him
through the fringe of her blonde eyelashes. He sat down on the edge of
the bed. She huddled up, drawing the cover over her chin.

"Cold, dear?"

"No," and she opened wide her eyes, which flashed sparks.

He undressed, casting a rapid glance at Hyacinthe's face. It was hidden
in the darkness, but was sometimes revealed by a flare of the red hot
fire, as a stick, half consumed and smouldering, would suddenly burst
into flame. Swiftly he slipped between the covers. He clasped a corpse;
a body so cold that it froze him, but the woman's lips were burning as
she silently gnawed his features. He lay stupified in the grip of this
body wound around his own, supple as the ... and hard! He could not
move; he could not speak for the shower of kisses traveling over his
face. Finally, he succeeded in disengaging himself, and, with his free
arm he sought her; then suddenly, while she devour