admiration in Felicia Ruys's studio； brought back his thoughts to the beautiful face； with its pure lines； which he had last seen in the Bois de Boulogue； leaning on Mora's shoulder。 What had become of this unfortunate girl when this prop had failed her？ Would this lesson be of use to her in the future？ And； by a strange coincidence； while he was thinking thus of Felicia； a great white greyhound was bounding up an alley of green trees on the slopes of the neighbouring garden。 It was like Kadour the same short hair； the same mouth； red； fierce； and delicate。 Paul； before his open window； was assailed in a moment by all sorts of visions； sad or charming。 Perhaps the beauty of the scene before his eyes made his thoughts wander。 Under the orange…trees and lemon…trees in rows； laden with their golden fruit； stretched immense fields of violets in regular and packed beds； separated by little irrigation canals； whose white stone cut up the exuberant verdure。
An exquisite ordour of violets dried in the sun was risinga hot boudoir scent； enervating； enfeebling； which called up for de Gery feminine visionsAline； Feliciapermeating the fairy…like landscape； in this blue…charged atmosphere； this heavenly day； which one might have called the perfume become visible of so many open flowers。 The creaking of a door made him open his eyes。 Some one had just gone into the next room。 He heard the rustle of a dress against the thin partition； a leaf turned in a book which could not be very interesting； for a long sigh turning into a yawn made him start。 Was he still sleeping； dreaming？ Had he not heard the cry of the 〃jackal in the desert；〃 so much in keeping with the burning temperature out of doors？ Nonothing more。 He fell asleep again； and this time all the confused images which pursued him fixed themselves in a dreama very pleasant dream。
He was on his honeymoon with Aline。 She was a delicious wife； her clear eyes full of love and faith； which only knew； only looked at him。 In this very room； on the other side of the partition； she was sitting in white morning dress； which smelt of violets and of the fine lace of her trousseau。 They were having breakfastone of those solitary breakfasts of a honeymoon； served in their bedroom； opposite the blue sea； and the clear sky； which tinge with azure the glass in which one drinks； the eyes where one sees one's self； the futurelife the distant horizon。 Oh！ how good it was； what a divine youth…giving light； how happy they were！
And all at once； in the delight of their kisses； Aline became sad。 Her eyes filled with tears。 She said to him： 〃Felicia is there。 You will love me no longer。〃 And he laughed； 〃Felicia here？ What an idea！〃 〃Yes； yes； she is there。〃 Trembling she pointed to the next room； from which came angry barks； and the voice of Felicia： 〃Here； Kadour！ Here； Kadour！〃 the low； concentrated； furious voice of some one who is hiding and suddenly discovered。
Wide awake； the lover； disenchanted； found himself in his empty room； before an empty table； his dream； fled through the window to the great hillside。 But he heard very distinctly in the next room the bark of a dog； and hurried knocks on the door。
〃Open the door！ It is Iit is Jenkins。〃
Paul sat up on his divan； stupefied。 Jenkins here？ How was that？ To whom was he speaking？ What voice was going to answer him？ No one answered。 A light step went to the door； and the lock creaked nervously。
〃Here you are at last；〃 said the Irishman； entering。
And truly if he had not taken care to announce himself； Paul would never have taken this brutal； violent； hoarse voice heard through the partition for the doctor's with his sugary manners。
〃At last I have found you after a week of searching； of mad rushing from Genoa to Nice； from Nice to Genoa。 I knew that you had not gone； because the yacht was in the harbour； and I was going to inspect all the inns on the coast； when I remembered Brehat。 I have just come from him。 It was he who told me you were here。〃
But to whom was he speaking？ Who was so singularly obstinate？ At last a beautiful； sad voice； which Paul well knew； made the hot afternoon air vibrate。
〃Well； yes； Jenkins； here I am。 What is the matter？〃
Through the wall Paul could see the disdainful mouth； turned down with disgust。
〃I have come to prevent you from goingfrom doing this foolish thing。〃
〃What foolish thing？ I have some work at Tunis。 I must go there。〃
〃But you don't think； my dear child； that〃
〃Oh； enough of your fatherly airs； Jenkins。 We know what lies underneath it。 Speak to me as you did just now。 I prefer the bull…dog to the spaniel。 I fear it less。〃
〃Well； I tell you that you must be mad to go over there alone； young and beautiful as you are。〃
〃And am I not always alone？ Would you like me to take Constance； at her age？〃
〃Or me？〃
〃You！〃 She pronounced the word with an ironical laugh。 〃And what about Paris？ And your patientsdeprive society of its Cagliostro？ Never； on any account。〃
〃I have； however； made up my mind to follow you wherever you go；〃 said Jenkins resolutely。
There was an instant of silence。 Paul asked himself if it was worthy of him to listen to this conversation which was full of terrible revelations。 But in spite of his fatigue an invincible curiosity nailed him to the spot。 It seemed to him that the enigma which had so long been perplexing and troubling him was going to be solved at last； to show the woman sad or perverse； concealed by the fashionable artist。 He remained there； still holding his breath； needlessly； however； for the two； believing themselves to be alone in the hotel； let their passions and their voices rise without constraint。
〃Well； what do you want of me？〃
〃I want you。〃
〃Jenkins！〃
〃Yes； yes； I know； you have forbidden me to say such words before you； but other men than I have said them； and nearer still。〃
〃And if it were so； wretch！ If I have not been able to protect myself from disgust and boredom； if I have lost my pride； is it for you to say a word？ As if you were not the cause of it； as if you had not forever saddened and darkened my life for me！〃
And these burning and rapid words revealed to the terrified Paul de Gery the horrible meaning of this apparently affectionate guardianship； against which the mind； the thought； the dreams of the young girl had had to struggle so long； and which had left her the incurable sadness of precocious regret； the heart…break of a life hardly begun。
〃I loved you！ I love you still！ Passion excuses everything；〃 answered Jenkins in a hollow voice。
〃Love me； then； if that amuses you。 As for me； I hate you not only for the wrong you have done me； all the beliefs and energy you have killed in me； but because you represent what is most execrable； most hideous under the sunhypocrisy and lies。 This society masquerade； this heap of falsity； of grimaces； of cowardly and unclean conventions have sickened me to such an extent； that I am running away exiling myself so as to see them no longer； rather than them I would have the prison； the sewer； the streets。 And yet it is your deceit； O sublime Jenkins； which horrifies me most。 You have mingled our French hypocrisy； all smiles and politeness； with your large English shakes of the hand； with your cordial and demonstrative loyalty。 They have all been caught by it。 They said； 'The good Jenkins； the worthy； honest Jenkins。' But II knew you； and in spite of your fine motto on the envelopes of your letters； on your seal； your sleeve…links； your hat…bands； the doors of your carriage； I always saw the rascal you are。〃
Her voice hissed through her teeth； clinched by an incredible ferocity of expression； and Paul expected some furious revolt of Jenkins under so many insults。 But this hate and contempt of the woman he loved must have given him more sorrow than anger； for he answered softly； in a tone of wounded gentleness：
〃Oh！ you are cruel。 If you knew the pain you are giving me！ Hypocrite！ yes； it is true； but I was not born like that。 One is forced into it by the difficulties of life。 When one has the wind against one； and wishes to advance； one tacks。 I have tacked。 Lay the blame on my miserable beginnings； my false entry into existence； and agree at least that one thing in me has never liedmy passion！ Nothing has been able to kill itneither your disdain； nor your abuse； nor all that I have read in your eyes； which for so many years have not once smiled at me。 It is still my passion which gives me the strength； even after what I have just heard； to tell you why I am here。 Listen！ You told me once that you wanted a husbandsome one who would watch over you during your work； who would take over some of the duties of the poor Crenmitz。 Those were your own words； which wounded me then because I was not free。 Now all that is changed。 Will you marry me； Felicia？〃
〃And your wife？〃 cried the young girl； while Paul was asking himself the same question。
〃My wife is dead。〃
〃Dead？ Mme。 Jenkins？ Is it true？〃
〃You never knew her of whom I speak。 The other was not my wife。 When I met her I was already married in Irelandyears before。 A horrible forced marriage。 My dear； when I was twenty…five I was confronted with this alternative： a debtor's prison or Miss Strang； an ugly and gouty old maid； sister of the usurer who had lent me five hundred pounds to pay for my medical studies。 I preferred the prison； but after weeks and months I came to the end of my courage； and I married Miss Strang； who brought me for dowrymy note of hand。 You can guess what my life was between these two monsters who adored each other。 A jealous； impotent wife。 The brother spied on me； following me everywhere。 I should have gone away； but one thing kept me there。 The usurer was said to be very rich。 I wished to have some return for my cowardice。 You see； I tell you all。 Come now； I have been punished。 Old Strang died insolvent； he used to gamble； had ruined himself without saying a word。 Then I put my wife and her rheumatism in a hospital； and came to France。 I had to begin existence again； more struggles and misery。 But I had experience on my side； hatred and contempt for men； and my newly conquered liberty； for I did not dream that the horrible weight of this cursed union was going to hinder my