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fiery ballet in the perfumed air。
One of them happened to come into our carriage； and shed its intermittent
light； which seemed to be extinguished one moment and to be burning the
next。 I covered the carriage…lamp with its blue shade and watched the
strange fly careering about in its fiery flight。 Suddenly it settled on
the dark hair of our neighbor； who was half dozing after dinner。 Paul
seemed delighted； with his eyes fixed on the bright； sparkling spot；
which looked like a living jewel on the forehead of the sleeping woman。
The Italian woke up about eleven o'clock； with the bright insect still in
her hair。 When I saw her move； I said： 〃We are just getting to Genoa；
madame；〃 and she murmured； without answering me； as if possessed by some
obstinate and embarrassing thought：
〃What am I going to do； I wonder？〃
And then she suddenly asked：
〃Would you like me to come with you？〃
I was so taken aback that I really did not understand her。
〃With us？ How do you mean？〃
She repeated； looking more and more furious：
〃Would you like me to be your guide now； as soon as we get out of the
train？〃
〃I am quite willing； but where do you want to go。
She shrugged her shoulders with an air of supreme indifference。
〃Wherever you like； what does it matter to me？〃 She repeated her 〃Che mi
fa〃 twice。
〃But we are going to the hotel。〃
〃Very well； let us all go to the hotel；〃 she said； in a contemptuous
voice。
I turned to Paul； and said：
〃She wishes to know whether we should like her to come with us。〃
My friend's utter surprise restored my self…possession。 He stammered：
〃With us？ Where to？ What for？ How？〃
〃I don't know； but she made this strange proposal to me in a most
irritated voice。 I told her that we were going to the hotel； and she
said： 'Very well； let us all go there！' I suppose she is without a penny。
She certainly has a very strange way of making acquaintances。〃
Paul； who 'was very much excited； exclaimed：
〃I am quite agreeable。 Tell her that we will go wherever she likes。〃
Then； after a moment's hesitation； he said uneasily：
〃We must know； however； with whom she wishes to gowith you or with me？〃
I turned to the Italian； who did not even seem to be listening to us； and
said：
〃We shall be very happy to have you with us； but my friend wishes to know
whether you will take my arm or his？〃
She opened her black eyes wide with vague surprise； and said； 〃Che ni
fa？〃
I was obliged to explain myself。 〃In Italy； I believe； when a man looks
after a woman； fulfils all her wishes； and satisfies all her caprices； he
is called a patito。 Which of us two will you take for your patito？〃
Without the slightest hesitation she replied：
〃You！〃
I turned to Paul。 〃You see； my friend； she chooses me； you have no
chance。〃
〃All the better for you；〃 he replied in a rage。 Then； after thinking for
a few moments； he went on：
〃Do you really care about taking this creature with you？ She will spoil
our journey。 What are we to do with this woman； who looks like I don't
know what？ They will not take us in at any decent hotel。〃
I； however； just began to find the Italian much nicer than I had thought
her at first； and I was now very desirous to take her with us。 The idea
delighted me。
I replied； 〃My dear fellow； we have accepted； and it is too late to
recede。 You were the first to advise me to say 'Yes。'〃
〃It is very stupid；〃 he growled； 〃but do as you please。〃
The train whistled； slackened speed； and we ran into the station。
I got out of the carriage； and offered my new companion my hand。 She
jumped out lightly； and I gave her my arm； which she took with an air of
seeming repugnance。 As soon as we had claimed our luggage we set off
into the town； Paul walking in utter silence。
〃To what hotel shall we go？〃 I asked him。 〃It may be difficult to get
into the City of Paris with a woman； especially with this Italian。〃
Paul interrupted me。 〃Yes； with an Italian who looks more like a dancer
than a duchess。 However； that is no business of mine。 Do just as you
please。〃
I was in a state of perplexity。 I had written to the City of Paris to
retain our rooms； and now I did not know what to do。
Two commissionaires followed us with our luggage。 I continued： 〃You
might as well go on first； and say that we are coming； and give the
landlord to understand that I have aa friend with me and that we should
like rooms quite by themselves for us three； so as not to be brought in
contact with other travellers。 He will understand； and we will decide
according to his answer。〃
But Paul growled； 〃Thank you； such commissions and such parts do not suit
me； by any means。 I did not come here to select your apartments or to
minister to your pleasures。〃
But I was urgent： 〃Look here； don't be angry。 It is surely far better to
go to a good hotel than to a bad one； and it is not difficult to ask the
landlord for three separate bedrooms and a dining…room。〃
I put a stress on three； and that decided him。
He went on first； and I saw him go into a large hotel while I remained on
the other side of the street； with my fair Italian； who did not say a
word； and followed the porters with the luggage。
Paul came back at last； looking as dissatisfied as my companion。
〃That is settled；〃 he said； 〃and they will take us in； but here are only
two bedrooms。 You must settle it as you can。〃
I followed him； rather ashamed of going in with such a strange companion。
There were two bedrooms separated by a small sitting…room。 I ordered a
cold supper； and then I turned to the Italian with a perplexed look。
〃We have only been able to get two rooms； so you must choose which you
like。〃
She replied with her eternal 〃Che mi fa！〃 I thereupon took up her little
black wooden trunk； such as servants use； and took it into the room on
the right； which I had chosen for her。 A bit of paper was fastened to
the box； on which was written； Mademoiselle Francesca Rondoli； Genoa。
〃Your name is Francesca？〃 I asked； and she nodded her head； without
replying。
〃We shall have supper directly；〃 I continued。 〃Meanwhile； I dare say you
would like to arrange your toilette a little？〃
She answered with a 'mica'； a word which she employed just as frequently
as 'Che me fa'； but I went on： 〃It is always pleasant after a journey。〃
Then I suddenly remembered that she had not； perhaps； the necessary
requisites； for she appeared to me in a very singular position； as if she
had just escaped from some disagreeable adventure； and I brought her my
dressing…case。
I put out all the little instruments for cleanliness and comfort which it
contained： a nail…brush； a new toothbrushI always carry a selection of
them about with memy nail…scissors； a nail…file； and sponges。 I
uncorked a bottle of eau de cologne； one of lavender…water； and a little
bottle of new…mown hay； so that she might have a choice。 Then I opened
my powder…box； and put out the powder…puff； placed my fine towels over
the water…jug； and a piece of new soap near the basin。
She watched my movements with a look of annoyance in her wide…open eyes；
without appearing eithe