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She watched my movements with a look of annoyance in her wide…open eyes；
without appearing either astonished or pleased at my forethought。
〃Here is all that you require；〃 I then said； 〃I will tell you when supper
is ready。〃
When I returned to the sitting…room I found that Paul had shut himself in
the other room； so I sat down to wait。
A waiter went to and fro； bringing plates and glasses。 He laid the table
slowly； then put a cold chicken on it； and told me that all was ready。
I knocked gently at Mademoiselle Rondoli's door。 〃Come in；〃 she said；
and when I did so I was struck by a strong； heavy smell of perfumes； as
if I were in a hairdresser's shop。
The Italian was sitting on her trunk in an attitude either of thoughtful
discontent or absent…mindedness。 The towel was still folded over the
waterjug that was full of water； and the soap； untouched and dry； was
lying beside the empty basin； but one would have thought that the young
woman had used half the contents of the bottles of perfume。 The eau de
cologne； however； had been spared； as only about a third of it had gone；
but to make up for that she had used a surprising amount of lavender…
water and new…mown hay。 A cloud of violet powder； a vague white mist；
seemed still to be floating in the air； from the effects of her over…
powdering her face and neck。 It seemed to cover her eyelashes； eyebrows；
and the hair on her temples like snow； while her cheeks were plastered
with it； and layers of it covered her nostrils； the corners of her eyes；
and her chin。
When she got up she exhaled such a strong odor of perfume that it almost
made me feel faint。
When we sat down to supper； I found that Paul was in a most execrable
temper； and I could get nothing out of him but blame； irritable words；
and disagreeable remarks。
Mademoiselle Francesca ate like an ogre； and as soon as she had finished
her meal she threw herself upon the sofa in the sitting…room。 Sitting
down beside her； I said gallantly； kissing her hand：
〃Shall I have the bed prepared； or will you sleep on the couch？〃
〃It is all the same to me。 'Che mi fa'！〃
Her indifference vexed me。
〃Should you like to retire at once？〃
〃Yes； I am very sleepy。〃
She got up； yawned； gave her hand to Paul； who took it with a furious
look； and I lighted her into the bedroom。 A disquieting feeling haunted
me。 〃Here is all you want；〃 I said again。
The next morning she got up early； like a woman who is accustomed to
work。 She woke me by doing so； and I watched her through my half…closed
eyelids。
She came and went without hurrying herself； as if she were astonished at
having nothing to do。 At length she went to the dressing…table； and in a
moment emptied all my bottles of perfume。 She certainly also used some
water； but very little。
When she was quite dressed； she sat down on her trunk again； and clasping
one knee between her hands； she seemed to be thinking。
At that moment I pretended to first notice her； and said：
〃Good…morning； Francesca。〃
Without seeming in at all a better temper than the previous night； she
murmured； 〃Good…morning！〃
When I asked her whether she had slept well； she nodded her head； and
jumping out of bed； I went and kissed her。
She turned her face toward me like a child who is being kissed against
its will； but I took her tenderly in my arms； and gently pressed my lips
on her eyelids； which she closed with evident distaste under my kisses on
her fresh cheek and full lips； which she turned away。
〃You don't seem to like being kissed；〃 I said to her。
〃Mica！〃 was her only answer。
I sat down on the trunk by her side； and passing my arm through hers； I
said： 〃Mica！ mica！ mica！ in reply to everything。 I shall call you
Mademoiselle Mica； I think。〃
For the first time I fancied that I saw the shadow of a smile on her
lips； but it passed by so quickly that I may have been mistaken。
〃But if you never say anything but Mica； I shall not know what to do to
please you。 Let me see； what shall we do to…day？〃
She hesitated a moment； as if some fancy had flitted through her head；
and then she said carelessly： 〃It is all the same to me； whatever you
like。〃
〃Very well； Mademoiselle Mica； we will have a carriage and go for a
drive。〃
〃As you please；〃 she said。
Paul was waiting for us in the dining…room； looking as bored as third
parties usually do in love affairs。 I assumed a delighted air； and shook
hands with him with triumphant energy。
〃What are you thinking of doing？〃 he asked。
〃First of all； we will go and see a little of the town； and then we might
get a carriage and take a drive in the neighborhood。〃
We breakfasted almost in silence； and then set out。 I dragged Francesca
from palace to palace； and she either looked at nothing or merely glanced
carelessly at the various masterpieces。 Paul followed us； growling all
sorts of disagreeable things。 Then we all three took a drive in silence
into the country and returned to dinner。
The next day it was the same thing and the next day again； and on the
third Paul said to me： 〃Look here； I am going to leave you； I am not
going to stop here for three weeks watching you make love to this
creature。〃
I was perplexed and annoyed； for to my great surprise I had become
singularly attached to Francesca。 A man is but weak and foolish； carried
away by the merest trifle； and a coward every time that his senses are
excited or mastered。 I clung to this unknown girl； silent and
dissatisfied as she always was。 I liked her somewhat ill…tempered face；
the dissatisfied droop of her mouth； the weariness of her look； I liked
her fatigued movements； the contemptuous way in which she let me kiss
her； the very indifference of her caresses。 A secret bond； that
mysterious bond of physical love； which does not satisfy； bound me to
her。 I told Paul so； quite frankly。 He treated me as if I were a fool；
and then said：
〃Very well； take her with you。〃
But she obstinately refused to leave Genoa； without giving any reason。
I besought； I reasoned； I promised； but all was of no avail； and so I
stayed on。
Paul declared that he would go by himself； and went so far as to pack up
his portmanteau； but he remained all the same。
Thus a fortnight passed。 Francesca was always silent and irritable；
lived beside me rather than with me； responded to all my requirements and
all my propositions with her perpetual Che mi fa； or with her no less
perpetual Mica。
My friend became more and more furious； but my only answer was； 〃You can
go if you are tired of staying。 I am not detaining you。〃
Then he called me names； overwhelmed me with reproaches； and exclaimed：
〃Where do you think I can go now？ We had three weeks at our disposal；
and here is a fortnight gone！ I cannot continue my journey now； and； in
any case； I am not going to Venice； Florence and Rome all by myself。 But
you will pay for it； and more dearly than you think； most likely。 You
are not going to bring a man all the way from Paris in order to shut him
up at a hotel in Genoa with an Italian adventuress。〃
When I told him； very calmly； to return to Paris； he exclaimed that h