第38章

WhatshouldIdo？Iwalkedinonedirectionandthencameback，lookingforsomeplacewhereIcouldspendtwohours，anddiscoveringforthefirsttimethatthereisnoplaceofamusementinParisintheevening.

AtlastIdecidedtogototheFolies—Bergere，thatentertainingresortforgaywomen.

Therewereveryfewpeopleinthemainhall.Inthelonghorseshoecurvetherewereonlyafewordinarylookingpeople，whoseplebeianoriginwasapparentintheirmanners，theirclothes，thecutoftheirhairandbeard，theirhats，theircomplexion.Itwasrarelythatonesawfromtimetotimeamanwhomyoususpectedofhavingwashedhimselfthoroughly，andhiswholemake—upseemedtomatch.Asforthewomen，theywerealwaysthesame，thosefrightfulwomenyouallknow，ugly，tiredlooking，drooping，andwalkingalongintheirlackadaisicalmanner，withthatairoffoolishsuperciliousnesswhichtheyassume，Idonotknowwhy.

Ithoughttomyselfthat，intruth，notoneofthoselanguidcreatures，greasyratherthanfat，puffedouthereandthinthere，withthecontourofamonkandthelowerextremitiesofabow—leggedsnipe，wasworththelouisthattheywouldgetwithgreatdifficultyafteraskingfive.

ButallatonceIsawalittlecreaturewhomIthoughtattractive，notinherfirstyouth，butfresh，comicalandtantalizing.Istoppedher，andstupidly，withoutthinking，Imadeanappointmentwithherforthatnight.Ididnotwanttogobacktomyownhomealone，allalone;

Ipreferredthecompanyandthecaressesofthishussy.

AndIfollowedher.ShelivedinagreatbighouseintheRuedesMartyrs.Thegaswasalreadyextinguishedonthestairway.Iascendedthestepsslowly，lightingacandlematcheveryfewseconds，stubbingmyfootagainstthesteps，stumblingandangryasIfollowedtherustleoftheskirtaheadofme.

Shestoppedonthefourthfloor，andhavingclosedtheouterdoorshesaid：

"Thenyouwillstaytillto—morrow？"

"Why，yes.Youknowthatthatwastheagreement."

"Allright，mydear，Ijustwantedtoknow.Waitformehereaminute，I

willberightback."

Andsheleftmeinthedarkness.IheardhershuttingtwodoorsandthenIthoughtIheardhertalking.Iwassurprisedanduneasy.Thethoughtthatshehadaprotectorstaggeredme.ButIhavegoodfistsandasolidback."Weshallsee，"Isaidtomyself.

Ilistenedattentivelywithearandmind.Someonewasstirringabout，walkingquietlyandverycarefully.ThenanotherdoorwasopenedandI

thoughtIagainheardsomeonetalking，butinaverylowtone.

Shecamebackcarryingalightedcandle.

"Youmaycomein，"shesaid.

Shesaid"thou"inspeakingtome，whichwasanindicationofpossession.

Iwentinandafterpassingthroughadiningroominwhichitwasveryevidentthatnooneeverate，Ienteredatypicalroomofallthesewomen，afurnishedroomwithredcurtainsandasoiledeiderdownbedcovering.

"Makeyourselfathome，’monchat’，"shesaid.

Igaveasuspiciousglanceattheroom，butthereseemednoreasonforuneasiness.

Asshetookoffherwrapsshebegantolaugh.

"Well，whatailsyou？Areyouchangedintoapillarofsalt？Come，hurryup."

Ididasshesuggested.

FiveminuteslaterIlongedtoputonmythingsandgetaway.Butthisterriblelanguorthathadovercomemeathometookpossessionofmeagain，anddeprivedmeofenergyenoughtomoveandIstayedinspiteofthedisgustthatIfeltforthisassociation.TheunusualattractivenessthatIsupposedIhaddiscoveredinthiscreatureoverthereunderthechandeliersofthetheaterhadaltogethervanishedoncloseracquaintance，andshewasnothingmoretomenowthanacommonwoman，likealltheothers，whoseindifferentandcomplaisantkisssmackedofgarlic.

IthoughtIwouldsaysomething.

"Haveyoulivedherelong？"Iasked.

"OversixmonthsonthefifteenthofJanuary."

"Wherewereyoubeforethat？"

"IntheRueClauzel.ButthejanitormademeveryuncomfortableandI

left."

Andshebegantotellmeaninterminablestoryofajanitorwhohadtalkedscandalabouther.

But，suddenly，Iheardsomethingmovingquiteclosetous.Firsttherewasasigh，thenaslight，butdistinct，soundasifsomeonehadturnedroundonachair.

Isatupabruptlyandasked.

"Whatwasthatnoise？"

Sheansweredquietlyandconfidently：

"Donotbeuneasy，mydearboy，itismyneighbor.Thepartitionissothinthatonecanheareverythingasifitwereintheroom.Thesearewretchedrooms，justlikepasteboard."

IfeltsolazythatIpaidnofurtherattentiontoit.Weresumedourconversation.Drivenbythestupidcuriositythatpromptsallmentoquestionthesecreaturesabouttheirfirstexperiences，toattempttolifttheveiloftheirfirstfolly，asthoughtofindinthematraceofpristineinnocence，tolovethem，possibly，inafleetingmemoryoftheircandorandmodestyofformerdays，evokedbyaword，Iinsistentlyaskedheraboutherearlierlovers.

Iknewshewastellingmelies.Whatdiditmatter？AmongalltheseliesImight，perhaps，discoversomethingsincereandpathetic.

"Come，"saidI，"tellmewhohewas."

"Hewasaboatingman，mydear."

"Ah！Tellmeaboutit.Wherewereyou？"

"IwasatArgenteuil."

"Whatwereyoudoing？"

"Iwaswaitressinarestaurant."

"Whatrestaurant？"

"’TheFreshwaterSailor.’Doyouknowit？"

"Ishouldsayso，keptbyBonanfan."

"Yes，that’sit."

"Andhowdidhemakelovetoyou，thisboatingman？"

"WhileIwasdoinghisroom.Hetookadvantageofme."

ButIsuddenlyrecalledthetheoryofafriendofmine，anobservantandphilosophicalphysicianwhomconstantattendanceinhospitalshasbroughtintodailycontactwithgirl—mothersandprostitutes，withalltheshameandallthemiseryofwomen，ofthosepoorwomenwhohavebecomethefrightfulpreyofthewanderingmalewithmoneyinhispocket.

"Awoman，"hesaid，"isalwaysdebauchedbyamanofherownclassandposition.Ihavevolumesofstatisticsonthatsubject.Weaccusetherichofpluckingtheflowerofinnocenceamongthegirlsofthepeople.

Thisisnotcorrect.Therichpayforwhattheywant.Theymaygathersome，butneverforthefirsttime."

Then，turningtomycompanion，Ibegantolaugh.

"YouknowthatIamawareofyourhistory.Theboatingmanwasnotthefirst."

"Oh，yes，mydear，Iswearit："

"Youarelying，mydear."

"Oh，no，Iassureyou."

"Youarelying;come，tellmeall."

Sheseemedtohesitateinastonishment.Icontinued：

"Iamasorcerer，mydeargirl，Iamaclairvoyant.Ifyoudonottellmethetruth，IwillgointoatrancesleepandthenIcanfindout."

Shewasafraid，beingasstupidasallherkind.Shefaltered：

"Howdidyouguess？"

"Come，goontellingme，"Isaid.

"Oh，thefirsttimedidn’tamounttoanything.

Therewasafestivalinthecountry.Theyhadsentforaspecialchef，M.Alexandre.Assoonashecamehedidjustashepleasedinthehouse.

Hebossedeveryone，eventheproprietorandhiswife，asifhehadbeenaking.Hewasabighandsomeman，whodidnotseemfittedtostandbesideakitchenrange.Hewasalwayscallingout，’Come，somebutter—

someeggs——someMadeira！’Andithadtobebroughttohimatonceinahurry，orhewouldgetcrossandsaythingsthatwouldmakeusblushallover.

"Whenthedaywasoverhewouldsmokeapipeoutsidethedoor.AndasI

waspassingbyhimwithapileofplateshesaidtome，likethat：’Come，girlie，comedowntothewaterwithmeandshowmethecountry.’Iwentwithhimlikeafool，andwehadhardlygotdowntothebankoftheriverwhenhetookadvantageofmesosuddenlythatIdidnotevenknowwhathewasdoing.Andthenhewentawayonthenineo’clocktrain.Ineversawhimagain."

"Isthatall？"Iasked.

Shehesitated.

"Oh，IthinkFlorentinbelongstohim."

"WhoisFlorentin？"

"Mylittleboy."

"Oh！Well，then，youmadetheboatingmanbelievethathewasthefather，didyounot？"

"Youbet！"

"Didhehaveanymoney，thisboatingman？"

"Yes，heleftmeanincomeofthreehundredfrancs，settledonFlorentin."

Iwasbeginningtobeamusedandresumed：

"Allright，mygirl，allright.Youareallofyoulessstupidthanonewouldimagine，allthesame.Andhowoldishenow，Florentin？"

Shereplied：

"Heisnowtwelve.Hewillmakehisfirstcommunioninthespring."

"Thatissplendid.Andsincethenyouhavecarriedonyourbusinessconscientiously？"

Shesighedinaresignedmanner.

"ImustdowhatIcan."

Butaloudnoisejustthencomingfromtheroomitselfmademestartupwithabound.Itsoundedlikesomeonefallingandpickingthemselvesupagainbyfeelingalongthewallwiththeirhands.

Ihadseizedthecandleandwaslookingaboutme，terrifiedandfurious.

Shehadrisenalsoandwastryingtoholdmebacktostopme，murmuring：

"That’snothing，mydear，Iassureyouit’snothing."

ButIhaddiscoveredwhatdirectionthestrangenoisecamefrom.I

walkedstraighttowardsadoorhiddenattheheadofthebedandIopeneditabruptlyandsawbeforeme，trembling，hisbright，terrifiedeyesopenedwideatsightofme，alittlepale，thinboyseatedbesidealargewickerchairoffwhichhehadfallen.

Assoonashesawmehebegantocry.Stretchingouthisarmstohismother，hecried：

"Itwasnotmyfault，mamma，itwasnotmyfault.Iwasasleep，andI

felloff.Donotscoldme，itwasnotmyfault."

Iturnedtothewomanandsaid：

"Whatdoesthismean？"

Sheseemedconfusedandworried，andsaidinabrokenvoice：

"Whatdoyouwantmetodo？Idonotearnenoughtoputhimtoschool！

Ihavetokeephimwithme，andIcannotaffordtopayforanotherroom，byheavens！HesleepswithmewhenIamalone.Ifanyonecomesforonehourortwohecanstayinthewardrobe;hekeepsquiet，heunderstandsit.Butwhenpeoplestayallnight，asyouhavedone，ittiresthepoorchildtosleeponachair.

Itisnothisfault.Ishouldliketoseeyousleepallnightonachair——youwouldhavesomethingtosay."

Shewasgettingangryandexcitedandwastalkingloud.

Thechildwasstillcrying.Apoordelicatetimidlittlefellow，averitablechildofthewardrobe，ofthecold，darkcloset，achildwhofromtimetotimewasallowedtogetalittlewarmthinthebedifitchancedtobeunoccupied.

Ialsofeltinclinedtocry.

AndIwenthometomyownbed.

THEMOUNTAINPOOL

SaintAgnes，May6.

MYDEARFRIEND：

YouaskedmetowritetoyouoftenandtotellyouinparticularaboutthethingsImightsee.Youalsobeggedmetorummageamongmyrecollectionsoftravelsforsomeofthoselittleanecdotesgatheredfromachancepeasant，fromaninnkeeper，fromsomestrangetravelingacquaintance，whichremainaslandmarksinthememory.Withalandscapedepictedinafewlines，andalittlestorytoldinafewsentencesyouthinkonecangivethetruecharacteristicsofacountry，makeitliving，visible，dramatic.Iwilltrytodoasyouwish.Iwill，therefore，sendyoufromtimetotimelettersinwhichIwillmentionneitheryounormyself，butonlythelandscapeandthepeoplewhomoveaboutinit.

AndnowIwillbegin.

Springisaseasoninwhichoneought，itseemstome，todrinkandeatthelandscape.Itistheseasonofchills，justasautumnistheseasonofreflection.Inspringthecountryrousesthephysicalsenses，inautumnitentersintothesoul.

IdesiredthisyeartobreathetheodoroforangeblossomsandIsetoutfortheSouthofFrancejustatthetimethateveryoneelsewasreturninghome.IvisitedMonaco，theshrineofpilgrims，rivalofMeccaandJerusalem，withoutleavinganygoldinanyoneelse’spockets，andI

climbedthehighmountainbeneathacoveringoflemon，orangeandolivebranches.

Haveyoueverslept，myfriend，inagroveoforangetreesinflower？

Theairthatoneinhaleswithdelightisaquintessenceofperfumes.Thestrongyetsweetodor，deliciousassomedainty，seemstoblendwithourbeing，tosaturateus，tointoxicateus，toenervateus，toplungeusintoasleepy，dreamytorpor.Asthoughitwereanopiumpreparedbythehandsoffairiesandnotbythoseofdruggists.

Thisisacountryofravines.Thesurfaceofthemountainsiscleft，hollowedoutinalldirections，andinthesesinuouscrevicesgrowveritableforestsoflemontrees.Hereandtherewherethesteepgorgeisinterruptedbyasortofstep，akindofreservoirhasbeenbuiltwhichholdsthewateroftherainstorms.

Theyarelargeholeswithslipperywallswithnothingforanyonetograspholdofshouldtheyfallin.

Iwaswalkingslowlyinoneoftheseascendingvalleysorgorges，glancingthroughthefoliageatthevivid—huedfruitthatremainedonthebranches.Thenarrowgorgemadetheheavyodoroftheflowersstillmorepenetrating;theairseemedtobedensewithit.AfeelingoflassitudecameovermeandIlookedforaplacetositdown.Afewdropsofwaterglistenedinthegrass.IthoughtthattherewasaspringnearbyandI

climbedalittlefurthertolookforit.ButIonlyreachedtheedgeofoneoftheselarge，deepreservoirs.

Isatdowntailorfashion，withmylegscrossedunderme，andremainedthereinareveriebeforethishole，whichlookedasifitwerefilledwithink，soblackandstagnantwastheliquiditcontained.Downyonder，throughthebranches，Isaw，likepatches，bitsoftheMediterraneangleamingsothattheyfairlydazzledmyeyes.Butmyglancealwaysreturnedtotheimmensesomberwellthatappearedtobeinhabitedbynoaquaticanimals，somotionlesswasitssurface.

Suddenlyavoicemademetremble.Anoldgentlemanwhowaspickingflowers——thiscountryistherichestinEuropeforherbalists——askedme：

"Areyouarelationofthosepoorchildren，monsieur？"

Ilookedathiminastonishment.

"Whatchildren，monsieur？"

Heseemedembarrassedandansweredwithabow：

"Ibegyourpardon.OnseeingyousittingthusabsorbedinfrontofthisreservoirIthoughtyouwererecallingthefrightfultragedythatoccurredhere."

NowIwantedtoknowaboutit，andIbeggedhimtotellmethestory.

Itisverydismalandveryheart—rending，mydearfriend，andverytrivialatthesametime.Itisasimplenewsitem.Idonotknowwhethertoattributemyemotiontothedramaticmannerinwhichthestorywastoldtome，tothesettingofthemountains，tothecontrastbetweenthejoyofthesunlightandtheflowersandthisblack，murderoushole，butmyheartwaswrung，allmynervesunstrungbythistalewhich，perhaps，maynotappearsoterriblyharrowingtoyouasyoureaditinyourroomwithouthavingthesceneofthetragedybeforeyoureyes.

Itwasonespringinrecentyears.Twolittleboysfrequentlycametoplayontheedgeofthiscisternwhiletheirtutorlayunderatreereadingabook.Onewarmafternoonapiercingcryawokethetutorwhowasdozingandthesoundofsplashingcausedbysomethingfallingintothewatermadehimjumptohisfeetabruptly.Theyoungerofthechildren，eightyearsofage，wasshouting，ashestoodbesidethereservoir，thesurfaceofwhichwasstirredandeddyingatthespotwheretheolderboyhadfalleninasheranalongthestonecoping.

Distracted，withoutwaitingorstoppingtothinkwhatwasbesttodo，thetutorjumpedintotheblackwateranddidnotriseagain，havingstruckhisheadatthebottomofthecistern.

Atthesamemomenttheyoungboywhohadrisentothesurfacewaswavinghisstretched—outarmstowardhisbrother.Thelittlefellowonlandlaydownfulllength，whiletheothertriedtoswim，toapproachthewall，andpresentlythefourlittlehandsclaspedeachother，tightenedineachother’sgrasp，contractedasthoughtheywerefastenedtogether.Theybothfelttheintensejoyofanescapefromdeath，ashudderatthedangerpast.

Theolderboytriedtoclimbuptotheedge，butcouldnotmanageit，asthewallwasperpendicular，andhisbrother，whowastooweak，wasslidingslowlytowardsthehole.

Thentheyremainedmotionless，filledanewwithterror.Andtheywaited.

Thelittlefellowsqueezedhisbrother’shandswithallhismightandweptfromnervousnessasherepeated："Icannotdragyouout，Icannotdragyouout."Andallatoncehebegantoshout，"Help！Help！"Buthislightvoicescarcelypenetratedbeyondthedomeoffoliageabovetheirheads.

Theyremainedthusalongtime，hoursandhours，facingeachother，thesetwochildren，withonethought，oneanguishofheartandthehorribledreadthatoneofthem，exhausted，mightletgothehandsoftheother.

Andtheykeptoncalling，butallinvain.

Atlengththeolderboy，whowasshiveringwithcold，saidtothelittleone："Icannotholdoutanylonger.Iamgoingtofall.Good—by，littlebrother."Andtheother，gasping，replied："Notyet，notyet，wait."

Eveningcameon，thestilleveningwithitsstarsmirroredinthewater.

Theolderlad，hisendurancegivingout，said："Letgomyhand，Iamgoingtogiveyoumywatch."Hehadreceiveditasapresentafewdaysbefore，andeversinceithadbeenhischiefamusement.Hewasabletogetholdofit，andhelditouttothelittlefellowwhowassobbingandwholaiditdownonthegrassbesidehim.

Itwasnightnow.Thetwounhappybeings，exhausted，hadalmostloosenedtheirgrasp.Theelder，atlast，feelingthathewaslost，murmuredoncemore："Good—by，littlebrother，kissmammaandpapa."Andhisnumbedfingersrelaxedtheirhold.Hesankanddidnotriseagain

Thelittlefellow，leftalone，begantoshoutwildly："Paul！Paul！"Buttheotherdidnotcometothesurface.

Thenhedartedacrossthemountain，fallingamongthestones，overcomebythemostfrightfulanguishthatcanwringachild’sheart，andwithafacelikedeathreachedthesitting—room，wherehisparentswerewaiting.

Hebecamebewilderedagainasheledthemtothegloomyreservoir.Hecouldnotfindhisway.Atlasthereachedthespot."Itisthere;yes，itisthere！"

Butthecisternhadtobeemptied，andtheproprietorwouldnotpermititasheneededthewaterforhislemontrees.

Thetwobodieswerefound，however，butnotuntilthenextday.

Yousee，mydearfriend，thatthisisasimplenewsitem.Butifyouhadseentheholeitselfyourheartwouldhavebeenwrung，asminewas，atthethoughtoftheagonyofthatchildhangingtohisbrother’shands，ofthelongsuspenseofthoselittlechapswhowereaccustomedonlytolaughandtoplay，andatthesimpleincidentofthegivingofthewatch.

Isaidtomyself："MayFatepreservemefromeverreceivingasimilarrelic！"Iknowofnothingmoreterriblethansucharecollectionconnectedwithafamiliarobjectthatonecannotdisposeof.Onlythinkofit;eachtimethathehandlesthissacredwatchthesurvivorwillpictureoncemorethehorriblescene;thepool，thewall，thestillwater，andthedistractedfaceofhisbrother—alive，andyetaslostasthoughhewerealreadydead.Andallthroughhislife，atanymoment，thevisionwillbethere，awakenedtheinstanteventhetipofhisfingertoucheshiswatchpocket.

AndIwassaduntilevening.Ileftthespotandkeptonclimbing，leavingtheregionoforangetreesfortheregionofolivetrees，andtheregionofolivetreesfortheregionofpines;thenIcametoavalleyofstones，andfinallyreachedtheruinsofanancientcastle，built，theysay，inthetenthcenturybyaSaracenchief，agoodman，whowasbaptizedaChristianthroughloveforayounggirl.Everywherearoundmeweremountains，andbeforemethesea，theseawithanalmostimperceptiblepatchonit：Corsica，or，rather，theshadowofCorsica.

Butonthemountainsummits，blood—redintheglowofthesunset，intheboundlessskyandonthesea，inallthissuperblandscapethatIhadcomeheretoadmireIsawonlytwopoorchildren，onelyingproneontheedgeofaholefilledwithblackwater，theothersubmergedtohisneck，theirhandsintertwined，weepingoppositeeachother，indespair.

AnditseemedasthoughIcontinuallyheardaweak，exhaustedvoicesaying："Good—by，littlebrother，Iamgoingtogiveyoumywatch."

Thislettermayseemrathermelancholy，dearfriend.Iwilltrytobemorecheerfulsomeotherday.

ACREMATION

LastMondayanIndianprincediedatEtretat，BapuSahibKhanderaoGhatay，arelationofHisHighness，theMaharajahGaikwar，princeofBaroda，intheprovinceofGuzerat，PresidencyofBombay.

ForaboutthreeweekstherehadbeenseenwalkinginthestreetsabouttenyoungEastIndians，small，lithe，withdarkskins，dressedallingrayandwearingontheirheadscapssuchasEnglishgroomswear.TheyweremenofhighrankwhohadcometoEuropetostudythemilitaryinstitutionsoftheprincipalWesternnations.Thelittlebandconsistedofthreeprinces，anobleman，aninterpreterandthreeservants.

Theheadofthecommissionhadjustdied，anoldmanofforty—twoandfather—in—lawofSampatroKashivaoGaikwar，brotherofHisHighness，theGaikwarofBaroda.

Theson—in—lawaccompaniedhisfather—in—law.

TheotherEastIndianswerecalledGanpatraoShravanraoGaikwar，cousinofHisHighnessKhasheraoGadhav;VasudevMadhavSamarth，interpreterandsecretary;theslaves：RamchandraBajaji，GanubinPukiramKokate，RhambhajibinFabji.

Onleavinghisnativelandtheonewhodiedrecentlywasovercomewithterriblegrief，andfeelingconvincedthathewouldneverreturnhewishedtogiveupthejourney，buthehadtoobeythewishesofhisnoblerelative，thePrinceofBaroda，andhesetout.

TheycametospendthelatterpartofthesummeratEtretat，andpeoplewouldgooutofcuriosityeverymorningtoseethemtakingtheirbathattheEtablissmentdesRoches—Blanches.

FiveorsixdaysagoBapuSahibKhanderaoGhataywastakenwithpainsinhisgums;thentheinflammationspreadtothethroatandbecameulceration.Gangrenesetinand，onMonday，thedoctorstoldhisyoungfriendsthattheirrelativewasdying.Thefinalstrugglewasalreadybeginning，andthebreathhadalmostlefttheunfortunateman’sbodywhenhisfriendsseizedhim，snatchedhimfromhisbedandlaidhimonthestoneflooroftheroom，sothat，stretchedoutontheearth，ourmother，heshouldyielduphissoul，accordingtothecommandofBrahma.

Theythensenttoaskthemayor，M.Boissaye，forapermittoburnthebodythatverydaysoastofulfilltheprescribedceremonialoftheHindooreligion.Themayorhesitated，telegraphedtotheprefecturetodemandinstructions，atthesametimesendingwordthatafailuretoreplywouldbeconsideredbyhimtantamounttoaconsent.Ashehadreceivednoreplyat9o’clockthatevening，hedecided，inviewoftheinfectiouscharacterofthediseaseofwhichtheEastIndianhaddied，thatthecremationofthebodyshouldtakeplacethatverynight，beneaththecliff，onthebeach，atebbtide.

Themayorisbeingcriticizednowforthisdecision，thoughheactedasanintelligent，liberalanddeterminedman，andwasupheldandadvisedbythethreephysicianswhohadwatchedthecaseandreportedthedeath.

TheyweredancingattheCasinothatevening.Itwasanearlyautumnevening，ratherchilly.Aprettystrongwindwasblowingfromtheocean，althoughasyettherewasnoseaon，andswift，light，raggedcloudsweredrivingacrossthesky.Theycamefromtheedgeofthehorizon，lookingdarkagainstthebackgroundofthesky，butastheyapproachedthemoontheygrewwhiterandpassedhurriedlyacrossherface，veilingitforafewsecondswithoutcompletelyhidingit.

Thetall，，straightcliffsthatinclosetheroundedbeachofEtretatandterminateintwocelebratedarches，called"theGates，"layinshadow，andmadetwogreatblackpatchesinthesoftlylightedlandscape.

Ithadrainedallday.

TheCasinoorchestrawasplayingwaltzes，polkasandquadrilles.Arumorwaspresentlycirculatedamongthegroupsofdancers.ItwassaidthatanEastIndianprincehadjustdiedattheHoteldesBainsandthattheministryhadbeenapproachedforpermissiontoburnthebody.Noonebelievedit，oratleastnoonesupposedthatsuchathingcouldoccursoforeignwasthecustomasyettoourcustoms，andasthenightwasfaradvancedeveryonewenthome.

Atmidnight，thelamplighter，runningfromstreettostreet，extinguished，oneafteranother，theyellowjetsofflamethatlightedupthesleepinghouses，themudandthepuddlesofwater.Wewaited，watchingforthehourwhenthelittletownshouldbequietanddeserted.

Eversincenoonacarpenterhadbeencuttingupwoodandaskinghimselfwithamazementwhatwasgoingtobedonewithalltheseplankssawnupintolittlebits，andwhyoneshoulddestroysomuchgoodmerchandise.

Thiswoodwaspiledupinacartwhichwentalongthroughsidestreetsasfarasthebeach，withoutarousingthesuspicionofbelatedpersonswhomightmeetit.Itwentalongontheshingleatthefootofthecliff，andhavingdumpedits