bits which are hollow; my bones protrude from under the yellow

skin; my mouth is pale, trembling, hanging like the mouths of lascivious old men. My gestures are erratic, and my fingers, constantly agitated by nervous shocks, crack, seeking a prey in the air.

Mad ! Yes, I am mad ! Whenever Mother Le Gannec is moving about me, when I hear her slippers dragging on the floor, when her dress brushes against me, criminal notions come and take possession of me ; they pursue me and I cry :

" Go away, Mother Le Gannec, go away."

Mad ! Yes, I am mad ! Often at night I stand for hours at the door of her room, my hand upon the knob, ready to plunge into the darkness of the room. I don't know what is holding me back. Fear, no doubt, for I say to myself : " She will struggle, cry, call for help and I shall be compelled to kill her! " Once, alarmed by the noise, she got up, barelegged ; she was dumb- founded for a moment, upon beholding me.

"What is the matter! It's you, friend Mintie? What are you doing here? Are you ill?"

I stammered some incoherent words and went upstairs to my room.

Ah ! Let them drive me out, beat me, with forks, stakes, scythes. Is it possible that men will not come in here in a moment, rush upon me, gag and drag me into the eternal night of the dungeon?

I must go away ! I must find Juliette again ! I must vent this accursed madness upon her!

When dawn came I went downstairs and said to Mother Le Gannec : " I must leave ! Let me have some money. I shall pay it back to you later. Let me have some money. I must leave ! "