night I was sure that I should.

Yes, as sure of that as I was sure that she was beautiful!



Chapter Three


Early the whole of the next day, endeavoring to look
preoccupied, I haunted the lobbies and vicinity of the most
expensive hotels, unable to do any other thing, but ashamed of
myself that I had not returned to my former task of seeking
employment, although still reassured by possession of two louis
and some silver, I dined well at a one-franc coachman's
restaurant, where my elegance created not the slightest
surprise, and I felt that I might live in this way indefinitely.

However, dreams often conclude abruptly, and two louis always
do, as I found, several days later, when, after paying the rent
for my unspeakable lodging and lending twenty francs to a poor,
bad painter, whom I knew and whose wife was ill, I found myself
with the choice of obtaining funds on my finery or not eating,
either of which I was very loath to do. It is not essential for
me to tell any person that when you seek a position it is better
that you appear not too greatly in need of it; and my former
garments had prejudiced many against me, I fear, because they
had been patched by a friendly concierge. Pantaloons suffer as
terribly as do antiques from too obvious restorations; and while
I was only grateful to the good woman's needle (except upon one