How right that Imperial sophist of the Decline to call it a convulsion! and the first Bonaparte, an affair of the sopha.
Thus Marcel moralized, like an old prelate, coming out from a closed room when some filthy scene has been enacted.
The fact is, that for some time he had been the hero of a comedy and of a drama; the grotesque comedy which he had unrolled with his servant, the terrible drama in which he saw himself involved with Suzanne Durand. And he was wearied and satiated. The satisfaction of his senses left him by way of retaliation, shame, trouble and fear.
Daniel Defoe has written in his admirable book:
"From how many mysterious sources, opposed one to the other, do not different circumstances cause our passions to proceed? We hate in the evening what we cherished in the morning; we avoid to-day what we sought for yesterday; we desire an object passionately, and a few moments after, we shall not know how to endure the idea of it."
Thus Marcel was cursing love, when Zulma came and knocked at his door.
XC.
LE CYGNE DE LA CROIX.
"As soon as she comes
The Hostess looks hard:
—My beauty no ceremony,
The supper is ready;
Come in, come in, my beauty
Come in, and no more noise
With three gallant captains
You shall spend the night."
(Popular Songs of France).