off her gloves； and drew over her head the gold chain from which her
bejeweled scent…bottle hung。 It gave me a quite indescribable pleasure
to watch the feline grace of every movement； the supple grace a cat
displays as it adjusts its toilette in the sun。 She looked at herself
in the mirror and said aloud ill…humoredly'I did not look well this
evening； my complexion is going with alarming rapidity； perhaps I
ought to keep earlier hours； and give up this life of dissipation。
Does Justine mean to trifle with me？' She rang again； her maid hurried
in。 Where she had been I cannot tell； she came in by a secret
staircase。 I was anxious to make a study of her。 I had lodged
accusations； in my romantic imaginings； against this invisible
waiting…woman； a tall； well…made brunette。
〃 'Did madame ring？'
〃 'Yes； twice；' answered Foedora； 'are you really growing deaf
nowadays？'
〃 'I was preparing madame's milk of almonds。'
〃Justine knelt down before her； unlaced her sandals and drew them off；
while her mistress lay carelessly back on her cushioned armchair
beside the fire； yawned； and scratched her head。 Every movement was
perfectly natural； there was nothing whatever to indicate the secret
sufferings or emotions with which I had credited her。
〃 'George must be in love！' she remarked。 'I shall dismiss him。 He has
drawn the curtains again to…night。 What does he mean by it？'
〃All the blood in my veins rushed to my heart at this observation； but
no more was said about curtains。
〃 'Life is very empty；' the countess went on。 'Ah！ be careful not to
scratch me as you did yesterday。 Just look here； I still have the
marks of your nails about me；' and she held out a silken knee。 She
thrust her bare feet into velvet slippers bound with swan's…down； and
unfastened her dress； while Justine prepared to comb her hair。
〃 'You ought to marry； madame； and have children。'
〃 'Children！' she cried； 'it wants no more than that to finish me at
once； and a husband！ What man is there to whom I could？ Was my
hair well arranged to…night？'
〃 'Not particularly。'
〃 'You are a fool！'
〃 'That way of crimping your hair too much is the least becoming way
possible for you。 Large； smooth curls suit you a great deal better。'
〃 'Really？'
〃 'Yes； really； madame； that wavy style only looks nice in fair hair。'
〃 'Marriage？ never； never！ Marriage is a commercial arrangement； for
which I was never made。'
〃What a disheartening scene for a lover！ Here was a lonely woman；
without friends or kin； without the religion of love； without faith in
any affection。 Yet however slightly she might feel the need to pour
out her heart； a craving that every human being feels； it could only
be satisfied by gossiping with her maid； by trivial and indifferent
talk。 。 。 。 I grieved for her。
〃Justine unlaced her。 I watched her carefully when she was at last
unveiled。 Her maidenly form； in its rose…tinged whiteness； was visible
through her shift in the taper light； as dazzling as some silver
statue behind its gauze covering。 No； there was no defect that need
shrink from the stolen glances of love。 Alas； a fair form will
overcome the stoutest resolutions！
〃The maid lighted the taper in the alabaster sconce that hung before
the bed； while her mistress sat thoughtful and silent before the fire。
Justine went for a warming…pan； turned down the bed； and helped to lay
her mistress in it； then； after some further time spent in
punctiliously rendering various services that showed how seriously
Foedora respected herself； her maid left her。 The countess turned to
and fro several times； and sighed； she was ill at ease； faint； just
perceptible sounds； like sighs of impatience； escaped from her lips。
She reached out a hand to the table； and took a flask from it； from
which she shook four or five drops of some brown liquid into some milk
before taking it； again there followed some painful sighs； and the
exclamation； 'MON DIEU！'
〃The cry； and the tone in which it was uttered； wrung my heart。 By
degrees she lay motionless。 This frightened me； but very soon I heard
a sleeper's heavy； regular breathing。 I drew the rustling silk
curtains apart； left my post； went to the foot of the bed； and gazed
at her with feelings that I cannot define。 She was so enchanting as
she lay like a child； with her arm above her head； but the sweetness
of the fair； quiet visage； surrounded by the lace； only irritated me。
I had not been prepared for the torture to which I was compelled to
submit。
〃 'Mon Dieu！' that scrap of a thought which I understood not； but must
even take as my sole light； had suddenly modified my opinion of
Foedora。 Trite or profoundly significant； frivolous or of deep import；
the words might be construed as expressive of either pleasure or pain；
of physical or of mental suffering。 Was it a prayer or a malediction；
a forecast or a memory； a fear or a regret？ A whole life lay in that
utterance； a life of wealth or of penury； perhaps it contained a
crime！
〃The mystery that lurked beneath this fair semblance of womanhood grew
afresh； there were so many ways of explaining Foedora； that she became
inexplicable。 A sort of language seemed to flow from between her lips。
I put thoughts and feelings into the accidents of her breathing；
whether weak or regular； gentle； or labored。 I shared her dreams； I
would fain have divined her secrets by reading them through her
slumber。 I hesitated among contradictory opinions and decisions
without number。 I could not deny my heart to the woman I saw before
me； with the calm； pure beauty in her face。 I resolved to make one
more effort。 If I told her the story of my life； my love； my
sacrifices； might I not awaken pity in her or draw a tear from her who
never wept？
〃As I set all my hopes on this last experiment； the sounds in the
streets showed that day was at hand。 For a moment's space I pictured
Foedora waking to find herself in my arms。 I could have stolen softly
to her side and slipped them about her in a close embrace。 Resolved to
resist the cruel tyranny of this thought； I hurried into the salon；
heedless of any sounds I might make； but； luckily； I came upon a
secret door leading to a little staircase。 As I expected； the key was
in the lock； I slammed the door； went boldly out into the court； and
gained the street in three bounds； without looking round to see
whether I was observed。
〃A dramatist was to read a comedy at the countess' house in two days'
time； I went thither； intending to outstay the others； so as to make a
rather singular request to her； I meant to ask her to keep the
following evening for me alone； and to deny herself to other comers；
but when I found myself alone with her； my courage failed。 Every tick
of the clock alarmed me。 It wanted only a quarter of an hour of
midnight。
〃 'If I do not speak；' I thought to myself； 'I must smash my head
against the corner of the mantelpiece。'
〃I gave myself three minutes' grace； the three minutes went by； and I
did not smash my head upon the marble； my heart grew heavy； like a
sponge with water。
〃 'You are exceedingly amusing；' said she。
〃 'Ah； madame； if you could but understand me！' I answered。
〃 'What is the matter with you？' she asked。 'You are turning pale。'
〃 'I am hesitating to ask a favor of you。'
〃Her gesture revived my courage。 I asked her to make the appointment
with me。
〃 'Willingly；' she answered' 'but why will you not speak to me now？'
〃 'To be candid with you； I ought to explain the full scope of your
promise： I want to spend this evening by your side； as if we were
brother and sister。 Have no fear； I am aware of your antipathies； you
must have divined me sufficiently to feel sure that I should wish you
to do nothing that could be displeasing to you； presumption； moreover；
would not thus approach you。 You have been a friend to me； you have
shown me kindness and great indulgence； know； therefore； that
to…morrow I must bid you farewell。Do not take back your word；' I
exclaimed； seeing her about to speak； and I went away。
〃At eight o'clock one evening towards the end of May； Foedora and I
were alone together in her gothic boudoir。 I feared no longer； I was
secure of happiness。 My mistress should be mine； or I would seek a
refuge in death。 I had condemned my faint…hearted love； and a man who
acknowledges his weakness is strong indeed。
〃The countess； in her blue cashmere gown； was reclining on a sofa；
with her feet on a cushion。 She wore an Oriental turban such as
painters assign to early Hebrews； its strangeness added an
indescribable coquettish grace to her attractions。 A transitory charm
seemed to have laid its spell on her face； it might have furnished the
argument that at every instant we become new and unparalleled beings；
without any resemblance to the US of the future or of the past。 I had
never yet seen her so radiant。
〃 'Do you know that you have piqued my curiosity？' she said； laughing。
〃 'I will not disappoint it；' I said quietly； as I seated myself near
to her and took the hand that she surrendered to me。 'You have a very
beautiful voice！'
〃 'You have never heard me sing！' she exclaimed； starting
involuntarily w