te movement and drew her veil up over her
forehead; we stood and gazed at one another for a second.

"Ylajali!" I cried. She stretched herself up, flung her arms round my
neck and kissed me right on the mouth--only once, swiftly,
bewilderingly swiftly, right on the mouth. I could feel how her bosom
heaved; she was breathing violently. She wrenched herself suddenly out
of my clasp, called a good-night, breathlessly, whispering, and turned
and ran up the stairs without a word more....

The hall door shut.

* * * * *

It snowed still more the next day, a heavy snow mingled with rain;
great wet flakes that fell to earth and were turned to mud. The air was
raw and icy. I woke somewhat late, with my head in a strange state of
confusion, my heart intoxicated from the foregone evening by the
agitation of that delightful meeting. In my rapture (I had lain a while
awake and fancied Ylajali at my side) I spread out my arms and embraced
myself and kissed the air. At length I dragged myself out of bed and
procured a fresh cup of milk, and straight on top of that a plate of
beef. I was no longer hungry, but my nerves were in a highly-strung
condition.

I went off to the clothes-shop in the bazaar. It occurred to me that I
might pick up a second-hand waistcoat cheaply, something to put on
under my coat; it didn't matter what.

I went up the steps to the bazaar and took hold of one and began to
examine it.

While I was thus engaged an acquaintance came by; he nodded and called
up to me. I let the waistcoat hang and went down to him. He was a
designer, and was on the way to his office.

"Come with me and have a glass of beer," he said. "But hurry up, I
haven't much time.... What lady was that you were walking with
yesterday evening?"

"Listen here now," said I, jealous of his bare thought. "Supposing it
was my _fiancee_."

"By Jove!" he exclaimed.

"Yes; it was all settled yesterday evening."

This nonplussed him completely. He believed me implicitly. I lied in
the most accomplished manner to get rid of him. We ordered the beer,
drank it, and left.

"Well, good-bye! O listen," he said suddenly. "I owe you a few
shillings. It is a shame, too, that I haven't paid you long ago, but
now you shall have them during the next few days."

"Yes, thanks," I replied; but I knew that he would never pay me back
the few shillings. The beer, I am sorry to say, went almost immediately
to my head. The th