“A twenty-five cent piece,” muttered Moisse.
The man held it up in his fingers and laughed. His face distorted itself into strange wrinkles when he laughed. Moisse who could not hear the laugh saw only an imbecilic grimace. The woman took the coin, and left the room.
She returned in a moment holding out her arms to the man.
He seized her, crushing her body against him until she was bent backward. He pressed his face over her, his mouth still open, his eyes staring.
The woman stared back and laughed, fastening her lips suddenly to his.
Losing his balance, the man staggered and the woman broke from his grasp. He pounced on her, seizing her hand and jerking her against him.
As she held back he raised his fist and struck her fiercely in the face. She swayed for an instant and then stood quiet.
Her lips began to smile and move in speech. The man shook his head rapturously, rubbing his nose with a finger and panting.
Moisse turned away and walked slowly toward the town.
“Good God,” he murmured, “he’ll take his clothes off and she....”