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situation from which there was no way out。 She had luxurious and expensive tastes； habits of disorder which nothing could conquer and which would bring her inevitably to poverty； both her and that good Crenmitz； who was allowing herself to be ruined without saying a word。 In three years； four years at the outside； all would be over with them。 And then the wretched expedients； the debts； the tatters and old shoes of poor artists' households。 Or； indeed； the lover； the man who keeps a mistressthat is to say； slavery and infamy。
〃Come； come；〃 said Jenkins。 〃And what of me； am I not here？〃
〃Anything rather than you；〃 she exclaimed； stiffening。 〃No； what I require； what I want； is a husband who will protect me from others and from myself； who will save me from many terrible things of which I am afraid in my moments of ennui； from the gulfs in which I feel that I may perish； some one who will love me while I am at work and relieve my poor old wearied fairy of her sentry duty。 This man here suits my purpose； and I thought of him from the first time I met him。 He is ugly； but he has a kind manner； then； too； he is ridiculously rich； and wealth； upon that scale； must be amusing。 Oh； I know well enough。 No doubt there is in his life some blemish that has brought him luck。 All that money cannot be made honestly。 But come； truly now； Jenkins； with your hand on that heart you so often invoke； do you think me a wife who should be very attractive to an honest man？ See： among all these young men who ask permission as a favour to be allowed to come here； which one has dreamed of offering me marriage？ Never a single one。 De Gery no more than the rest。 I am attractive； but I make men afraid。 It is intelligible enough。 What can one imagine of a girl brought up as I have been； without a mother； among my father's models and mistresses？ What mistresses； /mon Dieu/！ And Jenkins for sole guardian。 Oh； when I think； when I think！〃
And from that far…off memory things surged up that stirred her to a deeper wrath。
〃Ah； yes； /parbleu/！ I am a daughter of adventure； and this adventurer is； of a truth； the fit husband for me。〃
〃You must wait at least till he is a widower；〃 replied Jenkins calmly。 〃And； in that case； you run the risk of having a long time to wait； for his Levantine seems to enjoy excellent health。〃
Felicia Ruys turned pale。
〃He is married？〃
〃Married？ certainly； and father of a bevy of children。 The whole camp of them landed a couple of days ago。〃
For a minute she remained overwhelmed； looking into space； her cheeks quivering。 Opposite her； the Nabob's large face； with its flattened nose； its sensual and weak mouth； spoke insistently of life and reality in the gloss of its clay。 She looked at it for an instant； then made a step forward and； with a gesture of disgust； overturned； with the high wooden stool on which it stood； the glistening and greasy block； which fell on the floor shattered to a heap of mud。
JANSOULET AT HOME
Married he was and had been so for twelve years； but he had mentioned the fact to no one among his Parisian acquaintances； through Eastern habit； that silence which the people of those countries preserve upon affairs of the harem。 Suddenly it was reported that madame was coming； that apartments were to be prepared for herself； her children； and her female attendants。 The Nabob took the whole second floor of the house on the Place Vendome； the tenant of which was turned out at an expense worthy of a Nabob。 The stables also were extended； the staff doubled； then； one day； coachmen and carriages went to the Gare de Lyon to meet madame； who arrived by train heated expressly for her during the journey from Marseilles and filled by a suite of negresses； serving… maids； and little negro boys。
She arrived in a condition of frightful exhaustion； utterly worn out and bewildered by her long railway journey； the first of her life； for； after being taken to Tunis while still quite a child； she had never left it。 From her carriage； two negroes carried her into her apartments on an easy chair which； subsequently； always remained downstairs beneath the entrance porch； in readiness for these difficult removals。 Mme。 Jansoulet could not mount the staircase； which made her dizzy； she would not have lifts； which creaked under her weight； besides； she never walked。 Of enormous size； bloated to such a degree that it was impossible to assign to her any particular age between twenty…five and forty； with a rather pretty face but grown shapeless in its features； dull eyes beneath lids that drooped； vulgarly dressed in foreign clothes； laden with diamonds and jewels after the fashion of a Hindu idol； she was as fine a sample as could be found of those transplanted European women called Levantinesa curious race of obese creoles whom speech and costume alone attach to our world； but whom the East wraps round with its stupefying atmosphere； with the subtle poisons of its drugged air in which everything； from the tissues of the skin to the waists of garments； even to the soul； is enervated and relaxed。
This particular specimen of it was the daughter of an immensely rich Belgian who was engaged in the coral trade at Tunis； and in whose business Jansoulet； after his arrival in the country； had been employed for some months。 Mlle。 Afchin； in those days a delicious little doll of twelve years old； with radiant complexion； hair； and health； used often to come to fetch her father from the counting…house in the great chariot with its yoke of mules which carried them to their fine villa at La Marsu； in the vicinity of Tunis。 This mischievous child with splendid bare shoulders； had dazzled the adventurer as he caught glimpses of her amid her luxurious surroundings； and； years afterward； when； having become rich and the favourite of the Bey； he began to think of settling down； it was to her that his thoughts went。 The child had grown into a fat young woman； heavy and white。 Her intelligence； dull in the first instance； had become still more obscured through the inertia of a dormouse's existence； the carelessness of a father given over to business； the use of opium…saturated tobacco and of preserves made from rose…leaves； the torpor of her Flemish blood； re…enforced by Oriental indolence。 Furthermore； she was ill…bred； gluttonous； sensual； arrogant； a Levantine jewel in perfection。
But Jansoulet saw nothing of all this。
For him she was； and remained； up to the time of her arrival in Paris； a superior creature； a lady of the most exalted rank； a Demoiselle Afchin。 He addressed her with respect； in her presence maintained an attitude which was a little constrained and timid； gave her money without counting； satisfied her most costly fantasies； her wildest caprices； all the strange desires of a Levantine's brain disordered through boredom and idleness。 One word alone excused everything。 She was a Demoiselle Afchin。 Beyond this； no intercourse between them； he always at the Kasbah or the Bardo； courting the favour of the Bey； or else in his counting…houses； she passing her days in bed； wearing in her hair a diadem of pearls worth three hundred thousand francs which she never took off； befuddling her brain with smoking； liv