that has been worrying me for a long time; promise that you'll tell me.' I promise. ' Well, when one is dead, in the coffin, is it true that one's feet rest against the board ? ' ' What an idea ! Why do you speak of it?' 'Tell me, please tell me!' 'But I don't know, my dear Juliette!' 'Don't you know? Although it is true that you never know anything when I am serious. . . because. . . you see? ... I don't want my feet to rest against the board. When I am dead. . . you shall put a cushion inside and my white dress. . . you know the one with pink flowers. . . the dress for which I won the first prize! You'll be very sorry, my poor little thing, won't you? Embrace me! Come over here, closer to me, still closer. I adore you ! '

" And I used to wish that Juliette were sick all the time! But as soon as she recovers she does not remember anything; her promises, her resolutions are gone and our life of hell begins again, more violent and exasperating than ever. And from that little bit of heaven to which I have held on for a while, I tumble down again into the filth and crime of this love even more frightfully maimed in spirit ! Ah ! that is not all, Lirat! I should have stayed in that apartment to brood over my shame, don't you think ! I should have withdrawn into obscurity and oblivion sufficient to make people believe that I am dead. And instead of that ! Well ! Go to the Bois and you see me there every day. At the theatre it is I whom you will find in the stage box, in a dress suit, with a flower in my buttonhole, always I ! Juliette is resplendent amidst flowers, plumes and gems. She is exquisite, she has a new dress which everyone admires, a stock of smiles each more modest than the other, and the string of pearls, for which I have not paid, which she toys gracefully with the tips of her fingers and without the least remorse. And here I have not a sou, not a sou ! And I