not hesitate any longer. I
gave him my hand, and said, "Good night. You know the old saying: _A
victory without peril is a triumph without glory_, and upon my word, the
victory is worth the danger."

And with a firm step I went into Francesca's room.

I stopped short at the door in surprise and astonishment. She was
already asleep. Sleep had overcome her when she had finished undressing,
and she was reposing in the charming attitude of one of Titian's women.

It seemed as if she had lain down from sheer fatigue in order to take
off her stockings, for they were lying on the bed. Then she had thought
of something pleasant, no doubt, for she had waited to finish her
reverie before moving, and then, closing her eyes, she had lost
consciousness. A nightgown, embroidered about the neck such as one buys
in cheap ready-made shops, was lying on the chair.

She was charming, young, firm and fresh.

There is nothing prettier than a pretty woman asleep, and in a moment,
seeing her thus in all her naive charms, I was going to forget my
friend's prudent counsels, but, suddenly turning to the toilet-table, I
saw everything in the same state as I left it, and I sat down, anxious,
and a prey to irresolution.

I remained thus for a long time, not able to make up my mind either what
to do. Retreat was impossible, and I must either pass the night on a
chair, or go to bed myself at my own risk and peril.

I had no thoughts of sleeping either here or there, for my head was too
excited and my eyes too occupied.

I moved about without stopping, feverish uncomfortable, enervated. Then
I began to reason with myself, certainly with a view to capitulation.
"If I lie down that does not bind me to anything, and I shall certainly
be more comfortable on a mattress than on a chair."

I undressed slowly, and then, stepping over the sleeping girl, I
stretched myself out against the wall, turning my back on temptation.

In this position I remained for a long time without going to sleep, when
suddenly my neighbor woke up. She opened her eyes with astonishment, and
still with that discontented look in them; then, perceiving that she was
undressed, she got up, and calmly put on her nightgown with as much
indifference as if I had not been present.

Returning, she did not trouble herself at all about me, and immediately
went quietly to sleep again with her head resting on her right arm.

As for me, I began to meditate on human weakness and fatuit