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found two five…franc pieces at the back of the piano； that had slipped
without your knowledge between the frame and the keyboard； and I laid
them on your table。'
〃 'You will soon be coming into some money； M。 Raphael；' said the kind
mother； showing her face between the curtains； 'and I can easily lend
you a few crowns meanwhile。'
〃 'Oh； Pauline！' I cried； as I pressed her hand； 'how I wish that I
were rich！'
〃 'Bah！ why should you？' she said petulantly。 Her hand shook in mine
with the throbbing of her pulse； she snatched it away； and looked at
both of mine。
〃 'You will marry a rich wife；' she said； 'but she will give you a
great deal of trouble。 Ah； Dieu！ she will be your death；I am sure of
it。'
〃In her exclamation there was something like belief in her mother's
absurd superstitions。
〃 'You are very credulous； Pauline！'
〃 'The woman whom you will love is going to kill youthere is no
doubt of it；' she said； looking at me with alarm。
〃She took up her brush again and dipped it in the color； her great
agitation was evident； she looked at me no longer。 I was ready to give
credence just then to superstitious fancies； no man is utterly
wretched so long as he is superstitious； a belief of that kind is
often in reality a hope。
〃I found that those two magnificent five…franc pieces were lying； in
fact； upon my table when I reached my room。 During the first confused
thoughts of early slumber； I tried to audit my accounts so as to
explain this unhoped…for windfall； but I lost myself in useless
calculations； and slept。 Just as I was leaving my room to engage a box
the next morning； Pauline came to see me。
〃 'Perhaps your ten francs is not enough；' said the amiable； kind…
hearted girl； 'my mother told me to offer you this money。 Take it；
please； take it！'
〃She laid three crowns upon the table； and tried to escape； but I
would not let her go。 Admiration dried the tears that sprang to my
eyes。
〃 'You are an angel； Pauline；' I said。 'It is not the loan that
touches me so much as the delicacy with which it is offered。 I used to
wish for a rich wife； a fashionable woman of rank； and now； alas！ I
would rather possess millions； and find some girl； as poor as you are；
with a generous nature like your own； and I would renounce a fatal
passion which will kill me。 Perhaps what you told me will come true。'
〃 'That is enough；' she said； and fled away； the fresh trills of her
birdlike voice rang up the staircase。
〃 'She is very happy in not yet knowing love；' I said to myself；
thinking of the torments I had endured for many months past。
〃Pauline's fifteen francs were invaluable to me。 Foedora； thinking of
the stifling odor of the crowded place where we were to spend several
hours； was sorry that she had not brought a bouquet； I went in search
of flowers for her； as I had laid already my life and my fate at her
feet。 With a pleasure in which compunction mingled； I gave her a
bouquet。 I learned from its price the extravagance of superficial
gallantry in the world。 But very soon she complained of the heavy
scent of a Mexican jessamine。 The interior of the theatre； the bare
bench on which she was to sit； filled her with intolerable disgust；
she upbraided me for bringing her there。 Although she sat beside me；
she wished to go； and she went。 I had spent sleepless nights； and
squandered two months of my life for her； and I could not please her。
Never had that tormenting spirit been more unfeeling or more
fascinating。
〃I sat beside her in the cramped back seat of the vehicle； all the way
I could feel her breath on me and the contact of her perfumed glove； I
saw distinctly all her exceeding beauty； I inhaled a vague scent of
orris…root； so wholly a woman she was； with no touch of womanhood。
Just then a sudden gleam of light lit up the depths of this mysterious
life for me。 I thought all at once of a book just published by a poet；
a genuine conception of the artist； in the shape of the statue of
Polycletus。
〃I seemed to see that monstrous creation； at one time an officer；
breaking in a spirited horse； at another； a girl； who gives herself up
to her toilette and breaks her lovers' hearts； or again； a false lover
driving a timid and gentle maid to despair。 Unable to analyze Foedora
by any other process； I told her this fanciful story； but no hint of
her resemblance to this poetry of the impossible crossed herit
simply diverted her； she was like a child over a story from the
Arabian Nights。
〃 'Foedora must be shielded by some talisman；' I thought to myself as
I went back； 'or she could not resist the love of a man of my age； the
infectious fever of that splendid malady of the soul。 Is Foedora； like
Lady Delacour； a prey to a cancer？ Her life is certainly an unnatural
one。'
〃I shuddered at the thought。 Then I decided on a plan； at once the
wildest and the most rational that lover ever dreamed of。 I would
study this woman from a physical point of view； as I had already
studied her intellectually； and to this end I made up my mind to spend
a night in her room without her knowledge。 This project preyed upon me
as a thirst for revenge gnaws at the heart of a Corsican monk。 This is
how I carried it out。 On the days when Foedora received； her rooms
were far too crowded for the hall…porter to keep the balance even
between goers and comers； I could remain in the house； I felt sure；
without causing a scandal in it； and I waited the countess' coming
soiree with impatience。 As I dressed I put a little English penknife
into my waistcoat pocket； instead of a poniard。 That literary
implement； if found upon me； could awaken no suspicion； but I knew not
whither my romantic resolution might lead； and I wished to be
prepared。
〃As soon as the rooms began to fill； I entered the bedroom and
examined the arrangements。 The inner and outer shutters were closed；
this was a good beginning； and as the waiting…maid might come to draw
back the curtains that hung over the windows； I pulled them together。
I was running great risks in venturing to manoeuvre beforehand in this
way； but I had accepted the situation； and had deliberately reckoned
with its dangers。
〃About midnight I hid myself in the embrasure of the window。 I tried
to scramble on to a ledge of the wainscoting； hanging on by the
fastening of the shutters with my back against the wall； in such a
position that my feet could not be visible。 When I had carefully
considered my points of support； and the space between me and the
curtains； I had become sufficiently acquainted with all the
difficulties of my position to stay in it without fear of detection if
undisturbed by cramp； coughs； or sneezings。 To avoid useless fatigue；
I remained standing until the critical moment； when I must hang
suspended like a spider in its web。 The white…watered silk and muslin
of the curtains spread before me in great pleats like organ…pipes。
With my penknife I cut loopholes in them； through which I could see。
〃I heard vague murmurs from the salons； the laughter and the louder
tones of the speakers。 The smothered commotion and vague uproar
lessened by slow degrees。 One man and another came for his hat from
t