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And then I recalled that other woman； the peasant； the 〃Devil；〃 who sold
her children； her monsters。
AN UNCOMFORTABLE BED
One autumn I went to spend the hunting season with some friends in a
chateau in Picardy。
My friends were fond of practical jokes。 I do not care to know people
who are not。
When I arrived； they gave me a princely reception； which at once awakened
suspicion in my mind。 They fired off rifles； embraced me； made much of
me； as if they expected to have great fun at my expense。
I said to myself：
〃Look out； old ferret！ They have something in store for you。〃
During the dinner the mirth was excessive； exaggerated； in fact。
I thought： 〃Here are people who have more than their share of amusement；
and apparently without reason。 They must have planned some good joke。
Assuredly I am to be the victim of the joke。 Attention！〃
During the entire evening every one laughed in an exaggerated fashion。
I scented a practical joke in the air； as a dog scents game。 But what
was it？ I was watchful； restless。 I did not let a word； or a meaning；
or a gesture escape me。 Every one seemed to me an object of suspicion；
and I even looked distrustfully at the faces of the servants。
The hour struck for retiring； and the whole household came to escort me
to my room。 Why？
They called to me： 〃Good…night。〃 I entered the apartment； shut the door；
and remained standing； without moving a single step； holding the wax
candle in my hand。
I heard laughter and whispering in the corridor。 Without doubt they were
spying on me。 I cast a glance round the walls； the furniture； the
ceiling； the hangings； the floor。 I saw nothing to justify suspicion。
I heard persons moving about outside my door。 I had no doubt they were
looking through the keyhole。
An idea came into my head： 〃My candle may suddenly go out and leave me in
darkness。〃
Then I went across to the mantelpiece and lighted all the wax candles
that were on it。 After that I cast another glance around me without
discovering anything。 I advanced with short steps； carefully examining
the apartment。 Nothing。 I inspected every article； one after the other。
Still nothing。 I went over to the window。 The shutters； large wooden
shutters； were open。 I shut them with great care； and then drew the
curtains； enormous velvet curtains； and placed a chair in front of them；
so as to have nothing to fear from outside。
Then I cautiously sat down。 The armchair was solid。 I did not venture
to get into the bed。 However； the night was advancing； and I ended by
coming to the conclusion that I was foolish。 If they were spying on me；
as I supposed； they must； while waiting for the success of the joke they
had been preparing for me； have been laughing immoderately at my terror。
So I made up my mind to go to bed。 But the bed was particularly
suspicious…looking。 I pulled at the curtains。 They seemed to be secure。
All the same； there was danger。 I was going perhaps to receive a cold
shower both from overhead； or perhaps； the moment I stretched myself out；
to find myself sinking to the floor with my mattress。 I searched in my
memory for all the practical jokes of which I ever had experience。 And I
did not want to be caught。 Ah！ certainly not！ certainly not！ Then I
suddenly bethought myself of a precaution which I considered insured
safety。 I caught hold of the side of the mattress gingerly； and very
slowly drew it toward me。 It came away； followed by the sheet and the
rest of the bedclothes。 I dragged all these objects into the very middle
of the room； facing the entrance door。 I made my bed over again as best
I could at some distance from the suspected bedstead and the corner which
had filled me with such anxiety。 Then I extinguished all the candles；
and； groping my way； I slipped under the bed clothes。
For at least another hour I remained awake； starting at the slightest
sound。 Everything seemed quiet in the chateau。 I fell asleep。
I must have been in a deep sleep for a long time； but all of a sudden I
was awakened with a start by the fall of a heavy body tumbling right on
top of my own； and； at the same time； I received on my face； on my neck；
and on my chest a burning liquid which made me utter a howl of pain。 And
a dreadful noise； as if a sideboard laden with plates and dishes had
fallen down； almost deafened me。
I was smothering beneath the weight that was crushing me and preventing
me from moving。 I stretched out my hand to find out what was the nature
of this object。 I felt a face； a nose； and whiskers。 Then； with all my
strength； I launched out a blow at this face。 But I immediately received
a hail of cuffings which made me jump straight out of the soaked sheets；
and rush in my nightshirt into the corridor； the door of which I found
open。
Oh； heavens！ it was broad daylight。 The noise brought my friends
hurrying into my apartment； and we found； sprawling over my improvised
bed； the dismayed valet； who； while bringing me my morning cup of tea；
had tripped over this obstacle in the middle of the floor and fallen on
his stomach； spilling my breakfast over my face in spite of himself。
The precautions I had taken in closing the shutters and going to sleep in
the middle of the room had only brought about the practical joke I had
been trying to avoid。
Oh； how they all laughed that day！
A PORTRAIT
Hello！ there's Milial！〃 said somebody near me。 I looked at the man who
had been pointed out as I had been wishing for a long time to meet this
Don Juan。
He was no longer young。 His gray hair looked a little like those fur
bonnets worn by certain Northern peoples； and his long beard； which fell
down over his chest； had also somewhat the appearance of fur。 He was
talking to a lady； leaning toward her； speaking in a low voice and
looking at her with an expression full of respect and tenderness。
I knew his life； or at least as much as was known of it。 He had loved
madly several times； and there had been certain tragedies with which his
name had been connected。 When I spoke to women who were the loudest in
his praise； and asked them whence came this power； they always answered；
after thinking for a while： 〃I don't knowhe has a certain charm about
him。〃
He was certainly not handsome。 He had none of the elegance that we
ascribe to conquerors of feminine hearts。 I wondered what might be his
hid den charm。 Was it mental？ I never had heard of a clever saying of
his。 In his glance？ Perhaps。 Or in his voice？ The voices of some
beings have a certain irresistible attraction； almost suggesting the
flavor of things good to eat。 One is hungry for them； and the sound of
their words penetrates us like a dainty morsel。 A friend was passing。
I asked him： 〃Do you know Monsieur Milial？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Introduce us。〃
A minute later we were shaking hands and talking in the doorway。 What he
said was correct； agreeable to hear； it contained no irritable thought。
The voice was sweet； soft； caressing； musical； but I had heard others
much more attractive； much more moving。 One listened to him with
pleasure； just as one would loo