And, as she lay upon her back, she began to make her snake-like body undulate and gleam like a mirror, keeping time with her tambourine, which she held above her head.
The bursts of laughter with which she punctuated the outlandish music displayed her glistening teeth from end to end.
“Come back here,” she said, “are you afraid?”
He was ashamed, and, returning to the straw pallet, resumed his rôle of subjugated watch-dog in love with a she-wolf.
In that one night, the young man felt the whole power of his youth, learned more of life and realized more dreams than many real kings.
The pleasures of love are no greater to the prince than to the charcoal-burner.
The day was breaking. Bands of violet along the horizon changed to pink and then to yellow. An awakening breeze passed like a shiver over the desert of sand and water, entered the cabin, and blew out the flickering light on the stone table.
A cock in the distance welcomed the dawn.
Thereupon, Renaud started to go to find his horse. The wallet was empty, too.
“At the Icard farm,” said he, “I can get what I need.”