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himself in the warm； soft twilight； enjoying the pure air with the
scent of the hills in it； happy in that he felt no pain； and had
tranquilized his threatening Magic Skin at last。 It grew cooler as the
red glow of the sunset faded on the mountain peaks； he shut the window
and left his place。
〃Will you be so kind as not to close the windows； sir？〃 said an old
lady； 〃we are being stifled〃
The peculiarly sharp and jarring tones in which the phrase was uttered
grated on Raphael's ears； it fell on them like an indiscreet remark
let slip by some man in whose friendship we would fain believe； a word
which reveals unsuspected depths of selfishness and destroys some
pleasing sentimental illusion of ours。 The Marquis glanced； with the
cool inscrutable expression of a diplomatist； at the old lady； called
a servant； and； when he came； curtly bade him：
〃Open that window。〃
Great surprise was clearly expressed on all faces at the words。 The
whole roomful began to whisper to each other； and turned their eyes
upon the invalid； as though he had given some serious offence。
Raphael； who had never quite managed to rid himself of the bashfulness
of his early youth； felt a momentary confusion； then he shook off his
torpor； exerted his faculties； and asked himself the meaning of this
strange scene。
A sudden and rapid impulse quickened his brain； the past weeks
appeared before him in a clear and definite vision； the reasons for
the feelings he inspired in others stood out for him in relief； like
the veins of some corpse which a naturalist； by some cunningly
contrived injection； has colored so as to show their least
ramifications。
He discerned himself in this fleeting picture； he followed out his own
life in it； thought by thought； day after day。 He saw himself； not
without astonishment； an absent gloomy figure in the midst of these
lively folk； always musing over his own fate； always absorbed by his
own sufferings； seemingly impatient of the most harmless chat。 He saw
how he had shunned the ephemeral intimacies that travelers are so
ready to establishno doubt because they feel sure of never meeting
each other againand how he had taken little heed of those about him。
He saw himself like the rocks without； unmoved by the caresses or the
stormy surgings of the waves。
Then； by a gift of insight seldom accorded； he read the thoughts of
all those about him。 The light of a candle revealed the sardonic
profile and yellow cranium of an old man； he remembered now that he
had won from him； and had never proposed that the other should have
his revenge； a little further on he saw a pretty woman； whose lively
advances he had met with frigid coolness； there was not a face there
that did not reproach him with some wrong done； inexplicably to all
appearance； but the real offence in every case lay in some
mortification； some invisible hurt dealt to self…love。 He had
unintentionally jarred on all the small susceptibilities of the circle
round about him。
His guests on various occasions； and those to whom he had lent his
horses； had taken offence at his luxurious ways； their ungraciousness
had been a surprise to him； he had spared them further humiliations of
that kind； and they had considered that he looked down upon them； and
had accused him of haughtiness ever since。 He could read their inmost
thoughts as he fathomed their natures in this way。 Society with its
polish and varnish grew loathsome to him。 He was envied and hated for
his wealth and superior ability； his reserve baffled the inquisitive；
his humility seemed like haughtiness to these petty superficial
natures。 He guessed the secret unpardonable crime which he had
committed against them； he had overstepped the limits of the
jurisdiction of their mediocrity。 He had resisted their inquisitorial
tyranny； he could dispense with their society； and all of them；
therefore； had instinctively combined to make him feel their power；
and to take revenge upon this incipient royalty by submitting him to a
kind of ostracism； and so teaching him that they in their turn could
do without him。
Pity came over him； first of all； at this aspect of mankind； but very
soon he shuddered at the thought of the power that came thus； at will；
and flung aside for him the veil of flesh under which the moral nature
is hidden away。 He closed his eyes； so as to see no more。 A black
curtain was drawn all at once over this unlucky phantom show of truth；
but still he found himself in the terrible loneliness that surrounds
every power and dominion。 Just then a violent fit of coughing seized
him。 Far from receiving one single wordindifferent； and meaningless；
it is true； but still containing； among well…bred people brought
together by chance； at least some pretence of civil commiserationhe
now heard hostile ejaculations and muttered complaints。 Society there
assembled disdained any pantomime on his account； perhaps because he
had gauged its real nature too well。
〃His complaint is contagious。〃
〃The president of the Club ought to forbid him to enter the salon。〃
〃It is contrary to all rules and regulations to cough in that way！〃
〃When a man is as ill as that； he ought not to come to take the
waters〃
〃He will drive me away from the place。〃
Raphael rose and walked about the rooms to screen himself from their
unanimous execrations。 He thought to find a shelter； and went up to a
young pretty lady who sat doing nothing； minded to address some pretty
speeches to her； but as he came towards her； she turned her back upon
him； and pretended to be watching the dancers。 Raphael feared lest he
might have made use of the talisman already that evening； and feeling
that he had neither the wish nor the courage to break into the
conversation； he left the salon and took refuge in the billiard…room。
No one there greeted him； nobody spoke to him； no one sent so much as
a friendly glance in his direction。 His turn of mind； naturally
meditative； had discovered instinctively the general grounds and
reasons for the aversion he inspired。 This little world was obeying；
unconsciously perhaps； the sovereign law which rules over polite
society； its inexorable nature was becoming apparent in its entirety
to Raphael's eyes。 A glance into the past showed it to him； as a type
completely realized in Foedora。
He would no more meet with sympathy here for his bodily ills than he
had received it at her hands for the distress in his heart。 The
fashionable world expels every suffering creature from its midst； just
as the body of a man in robust health rejects any germ of disease。 The
world holds suffering and misfortune in abhorrence； it dreads them
like the plague； it never hesitates between vice and trouble； for vice
is a luxury。 Ill…fortune may possess a majesty of its own； but society
can belittle it and make it ridiculous by an epigram。 Society draws
caricatures； and in this way flings in the teeth of fal