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through together。 What am I to say to the children when they ask for him？
His room is exactly as it was when he left it。 It's waiting for him。 We're
all waiting for him。〃
Now she told me exactly what I should say。 She gave me elaborate
answers to every possible observation of his。
〃You will do everything you can for me？〃 she said pitifully。 〃Tell him
what a state I'm in。〃
I saw that she wished me to appeal to his sympathies by every means
in my power。 She was weeping freely。 I was extraordinarily touched。
I felt indignant at Strickland's cold cruelty； and I promised to do all I could
to bring him back。 I agreed to go over on the next day but one； and to stay
in Paris till I had achieved something。 Then； as it was growing late and
we were both exhausted by so much emotion； I left her。
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The Moon and Sixpence
Chapter XI
During the journey I thought over my errand with misgiving。 Now
that I was free from the spectacle of Mrs。 Strickland's distress I could
consider the matter more calmly。 I was puzzled by the contradictions
that I saw in her behaviour。 She was very unhappy； but to excite my
sympathy she was able to make a show of her unhappiness。 It was
evident that she had been prepared to weep； for she had provided herself
with a sufficiency of handkerchiefs； I admired her forethought； but in
retrospect it made her tears perhaps less moving。 I could not decide
whether she desired the return of her husband because she loved him； or
because she dreaded the tongue of scandal； and I was perturbed by the
suspicion that the anguish of love contemned was alloyed in her broken
heart with the pangs； sordid to my young mind； of wounded vanity。 I had
not yet learnt how contradictory is human nature； I did not know how
much pose there is in the sincere； how much baseness in the noble； nor
how much goodness in the reprobate。
But there was something of an adventure in my trip； and my spirits
rose as I approached Paris。 I saw myself； too； from the dramatic
standpoint； and I was pleased with my role of the trusted friend bringing
back the errant husband to his forgiving wife。 I made up my mind to see
Strickland the following evening； for I felt instinctively that the hour must
be chosen with delicacy。 An appeal to the emotions is little likely to be
effectual before luncheon。 My own thoughts were then constantly
occupied with love； but I never could imagine connubial bliss till after tea。
I enquired at my hotel for that in which Charles Strickland was living。
It was called the Hotel des Belges。 But the concierge； somewhat to my
surprise； had never heard of it。 I had understood from Mrs。 Strickland that
it was a large and sumptuous place at the back of the Rue de Rivoli。 We
looked it out in the directory。 The only hotel of that name was in the Rue
des Moines。 The quarter was not fashionable； it was not even respectable。
I shook my head。
〃I'm sure that's not it；〃 I said。
The concierge shrugged his shoulders。 There was no other hotel of
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The Moon and Sixpence
that name in Paris。 It occurred to me that Strickland had concealed his
address； after all。 In giving his partner the one I knew he was perhaps
playing a trick on him。 I do not know why I had an inkling that it would
appeal to Strickland's sense of humour to bring a furious stockbroker over
to Paris on a fool's errand to an ill…famed house in a mean street。 Still； I
thought I had better go and see。 Next day about six o'clock I took a cab to
the Rue des Moines； but dismissed it at the corner； since I preferred to
walk to the hotel and look at it before I went in。 It was a street of small
shops subservient to the needs of poor people； and about the middle of it；
on the left as I walked down； was the Hotel des Belges。 My own hotel
was modest enough； but it was magnificent in comparison with this。 It
was a tall； shabby building； that cannot have been painted for years； and it
had so bedraggled an air that the houses on each side of it looked neat and
clean。 The dirty windows were all shut。 It was not here that Charles
Strickland lived in guilty splendour with the unknown charmer for whose
sake he had abandoned honour and duty。 I was vexed； for I felt that I had
been made a fool of； and I nearly turned away without making an enquiry。
I went in only to be able to tell Mrs。 Strickland that I had done my best。
The door was at the side of a shop。 It stood open； and just within was
a sign： I walked up narrow stairs； and on the
landing found a sort of box； glassed in； within which were a desk and a
couple of chairs。 There was a bench outside； on which it might be
presumed the night porter passed uneasy nights。 There was no one about；
but under an electric bell was written I rang； and presently a
waiter appeared。 He was a young man with furtive eyes and a sullen
look。 He was in shirt…sleeves and carpet slippers。
I do not know why I made my enquiry as casual as possible。
〃Does Mr。 Strickland live here by any chance？〃 I asked。
〃Number thirty…two。 On the sixth floor。〃
I was so surprised that for a moment I did not answer。
〃Is he in？〃
The waiter looked at a board in the
〃He hasn't left his key。 Go up and you'll see。〃
I thought it as well to put one more question。
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The waiter looked at me suspiciously as I made my way upstairs。 They
were dark and airless。 There was a foul and musty smell。 Three flights
up a Woman in a dressing…gown； with touzled hair； opened a door and
looked at me silently as I passed。 At length I reached the sixth floor； and
knocked at the door numbered thirty…tw