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When I told him； very calmly； to return to Paris； he exclaimed that he
intended to do so the very next day； but the next day he was still there；
still in a rage and swearing。
By this time we began to be known in the streets through which we
wandered from morning till night。 Sometimes French people would turn
round astonished at meeting their fellow…countrymen in the company of
this girl with her striking costume； who looked singularly out of place；
not to say compromising； beside us。
She used to walk along； leaning on my arm； without looking at anything。
Why did she remain with me； with us； who seemed to do so little to amuse
her？ Who was she？ Where did she come from？ What was she doing？ Had
she any plan or idea？ Where did she live？ As an adventuress； or by
chance meetings？ I tried in vain to find out and to explain it。 The
better I knew her the more enigmatical she became。 She seemed to be a
girl of poor family who had been taken away； and then cast aside and
lost。 What did she think would become of her； or whom was she waiting
for？ She certainly did not appear to be trying to make a conquest of me；
or to make any real profit out of me。
I tried to question her； to speak to her of her childhood and family； but
she never gave me an answer。 I stayed with her； my heart unfettered and
my senses enchained； never wearied of holding her in my arms； that proud
and quarrelsome woman； captivated by my senses； or rather carried away；
overcome by a youthful； healthy； powerful charm； which emanated from her
fragrant person and from the well…molded lines of her body。
Another week passed； and the term of my journey was drawing on； for I had
to be back in Paris by the eleventh of July。 By this time Paul had come
to take his part in the adventure； though still grumbling at me； while I
invented pleasures； distractions and excursions to amuse Francesca and my
friend； and in order to do this I gave myself a great amount of trouble。
One day I proposed an excursion to Sta Margarita； that charming little
town in the midst of gardens； hidden at the foot of a slope which
stretches far into the sea up to the village of Portofino。 We three
walked along the excellent road which goes along the foot of the
mountain。 Suddenly Francesca said to me： 〃I shall not be able to go with
you to…morrow； I must go and see some of my relatives。〃
That was all； I did not ask her any questions； as I was quite sure she
would not answer me。
The next morning she got up very early。 When she spoke to me it was in a
constrained and hesitating voice：
〃If I do not come back again； shall you come and fetch me？〃
〃Most certainly I shall；〃 was my reply。 〃Where shall I go to find you？〃
Then she explained： 〃You must go into the Street Victor…Emmanuel； down
the Falcone road and the side street San…Rafael and into the furniture
shop in the building at the right at the end of a court； and there you
must ask for Madame Rondoli。 That is the place。〃
And so she went away； leaving me rather astonished。
When Paul saw that I was alone； he stammered out： 〃Where； is Francesca？〃
And when I told him what had happened； he exclaimed：
〃My dear fellow； let us make use of our opportunity； and bolt； as it is；
our time is up。 Two days； more or less； make no difference。 Let us go
at once； go and pack up your things。 Off we go！〃
But I refused。 I could not； as I told him； leave the girl in that manner
after such companionship for nearly three weeks。 At any rate； I ought to
say good…by to her； and make her accept a present； I certainly had no
intention of behaving badly to her。
But he would not listen； he pressed and worried me； but I would not give
way。
I remained indoors for several hours； expecting Francesca's return； but
she did not come； and at last； at dinner； Paul said with a triumphant
air：
〃She has flown； my dear fellow； it is certainly very strange。〃
I must acknowledge that I was surprised and rather vexed。 He laughed in
my face； and made fun of me。
〃It is not exactly a bad way of getting rid of you； though rather
primitive。 'Just wait for me； I shall be back in a moment；' they often
say。 How long are you going to wait？ I should not wonder if you were
foolish enough to go and look for her at the address she gave you。 'Does
Madame Rondoli live here； please？' 'No； monsieur。' I'll bet that you are
longing to go there。〃
〃Not in the least；〃 I protested； 〃and I assure you that if she does not
come back to…morrow morning I shall leave by the express at eight
o'clock。 I shall have waited twenty…four hours； and that is enough； my
conscience will be quite clear。〃
I spent an uneasy and unpleasant evening； for I really had at heart a
very tender feeling for her。 I went to bed at twelve o'clock； and hardly
slept at all。 I got up at six； called Paul； packed up my things； and two
hours later we set out for France together。
III
The next year； at just about the same period； I was seized as one is with
a periodical fever； with a new desire to go to Italy； and I immediately
made up my mind to carry it into effect。 There is no doubt that every
really well…educated man ought to see Florence； Venice and Rome。 This
travel has； also； the additional advantage of providing many subjects of
conversation in society； and of giving one an opportunity for bringing
forward artistic generalities which appear profound。
This time I went alone； and I arrived at Genoa at the same time as the
year before； but without any adventure on the road。 I went to the same
hotel； and actually happened to have the same room。
I was hardly in bed when the recollection of Francesca which； since the
evening before； had been floating vaguely through my mind； haunted me
with strange persistency。 I thought of her nearly the whole night； and
by degrees the wish to see her again seized me； a confused desire at
first； which gradually grew stronger and more intense。 At last I made up
my mind to spend the next day in Genoa to try to find her； and if I
should not succeed； to take the evening train。
Early in the morning I set out on my search。 I remembered the directions
she had given me when she left me； perfectlyVictor…Emmanuel Street；
house of the furniture…dealer； at the bottom of the yard on the right。
I found it without the least difficulty； and I knocked at the door of a
somewhat dilapidated…looking dwelling。 It was opened by a stout woman；
who must have been very handsome； but who actually was only very dirty。
Although she had too much embonpoint； she still bore the lines of
majestic beauty； her untidy hair fell over her forehead and shoulders；
and one fancied one could see her floating about in an enormous dressing…
gown covered with spots of dirt and grease。 Round her neck she wore a
great gilt necklace； and on her wrists were splendid bracelets of Genoa
filigree work。
In rather a hostile manner she asked me what I wanted； and I replied by
requesting her to tell me whether Francesca Rondoli lived there。
〃What do you want with her？〃 she asked。
〃I had the pleasure of meeting her last year； and I should like to see
her again。〃
The old woman looke