I was thinking:

" She'll be here in a minute ! "

I waited. No one came! I continued waiting. Nobody came! Time passed. And still no one came!

" The contemptible creature ! And she was still smiling! And she looked gay! And she knew that I was going to kill myself at six o'clock ! "

I ran to the Rue de Balzac. Celestine assured me that Madame had just gone out.

" Listen, Celestine, you are a nice girl. I like you very much. Do you know where she is? Go and find her and tell her that I want to see her."

" But I don't know where Madame is."

" Yes, you do, Celestine. I implore you. Please go ! I suffer so ! "

" Upon my word of honor ! Monsieur, I don't know where she is. "

I insisted:

" Perhaps she is at her lover's ? At the restaurant. Oh, tell me where she is! . . ."

" But I don't know ! "

I was getting impatient.

" Celestine, I have been trying to be nice to you. Don't make me lose my temper. . . because. . . ."

Celestine crossed her arms, shook her head and in the drawling voice of a blackguard:

" Because what? Oh, I am getting tired of you, you miserable wretch, you ! And if you don't betake yourself from here in a hurry, I am going to call the police, do you hear? "

And pushing me rudely toward the door she added :

" Yes, I mean it ! These sluts here are worse than dogs ! "

I had sense enough not to start a quarrel with Celestine and, burning with shame, I went down the