“ ‘Should you like to go to bed at once?’
“ ‘Yes; I am very sleepy.’
“She got up, yawned, gave Paul her hand, who took it with a furious look, and I lighted her into our room. A disquieting feeling haunted me. ‘Here is all you want,’ I said again.
“This time I took care to pour half the water into the basin, and to put a towel near the soap.
“Then I went back to Paul. As soon as I got into the room, he said, ‘You have got a nice sort of a creature there!’ and I answered, laughing, ‘My dear friend, don’t speak ill of sour grapes,’ and he replied, ill-temperedly:
“ ‘Just take care how this ends, my good fellow.’
“I almost trembled with that feeling of fear which assails us after some suspicious love escapade—that fear which spoils our pleasant meetings, our unexpected caresses, our chance kisses. However, I put a bold face on the matter. ‘At any rate, the girl is no adventuress.’
“But the fellow had me in his power; he had seen the shadow of my anxiety on my face.
“ ‘What do you know about her? You really astonish me. You pick up an Italian woman travelling alone in the train, and she volunteers, with most singular cynicism, to go and be your mistress in any old hotel. You take her with you, and then you declare that she is not a tart! And you persuade yourself that you are not running more risk than if you were to go and spend the night with a woman who had smallpox.’
“He laughed with an unpleasant and angry laugh. I sat down, a prey to uneasiness. What was I to do, for he was right after all? And a struggle began within me, between desire and fear.
“He went on: ‘Do as you like, I have warned you, so do not complain of the consequences.’
“But I saw such ironical gaiety in his eyes, such a delight in his revenge; he made fun of me so good-naturedly, that I did not hesitate any longer. I gave him my hand, and said, ‘Good night. You know the old saying: “A victory without peril is a triumph without glory,” and upon my word, the victory is worth the danger.’
“And with a firm step I went into Francesca’s room.
“I stopped short at the door in surprise and astonishment. She was already asleep, quite naked on the bed. Sleep had overcome her when she had finished undressing, and she was reposing in the charming attitude of one of Titian’s women.
“It seemed as if she had lain down from sheer fatigue in order to take off her stockings, for they were lying on the bed. Then she had thought of something pleasant, no doubt, for she had waited to finish her reverie before moving, and then, closing her eyes, she had lost consciousness. A nightgown, embroidered about the neck such as one buys in cheap, ready-made shops, a beginner’s luxury, was lying on a chair.
“She was charming, young, firm, and fresh.
“What is prettier than a woman asleep? The body with its soft contours, whose every curve is a temptation, whose plump softness stirs the senses, seems to have been created for the repose of the bed. Only when it is lying upon the sheets does one get the full value of that undulating line which curves in at the waist, curves out at the hips and then runs down the charming outline of the leg, ending at the point of the foot. I was on the point of forgetting my friend’s prudent counsels, but suddenly turning to the washstand I saw everything as I had left it, and I sat down, anxious, and a prey to irresolution.
“I remained thus for a long time, not able to make up my mind what to do. Retreat was impossible, and I must either pass the night on a chair, or go to bed myself at my own risk and peril.
“I had no thoughts of sleeping either here or there, for my head was too excited and my eyes too occupied.
“I stirred incessantly, feverish, uncomfortable, enervated. Then I began to reason with myself, certainly with a view to capitulation: ‘If I lie down that does not bind me to anything, and I shall certainly be more comfortable on a mattress than on a chair.’
“I undressed slowly, and then, stepping over the sleeping girl, I stretched myself out against the wall, turning my back on temptation.
“In this position I remained for a long time without going to sleep, when suddenly my neighbour awoke. She opened her eyes, looked astonished, and still discontented; then seeing that she had nothing on, she got up and calmly put on her nightgown with as much indifference as if I had not been present.
“Then … I seized the opportunity, but this did not appear to disturb her at all. She immediately went quietly to sleep again, with her head resting on her right arm. And I began to meditate on the weakness and folly of human nature. Then I went to sleep also.
“She got up early, like a woman who is used to work in the morning. She woke me up by doing so, and I watched her through my half-closed eyelids.
“She came and went without hurrying herself, as if she were astonished at having nothing to do. At last she went to the washstand, and in a moment she emptied all the scent that remained in my bottles. She certainly also used some water, but very little.
“When she was quite dressed she sat down on her box again, and holding one knee between her hands, seemed to be thinking.
“Then I pretended to notice her, and said:
“ ‘Good morning, Francesca.’
“Without seeming in at all a better temper than the previous night, she murmured, ‘Good morning.’
“When I asked her whether she had slept well, she nodded ‘Yes,’ and jumping out of bed, I went and kissed her.
“She turned her face toward me like a child who is being
