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dry atmosphere of the office the act of giving the address of
the flat would restore some kind of reality to the phantasmal
transaction。 And with wonder he watched the lawyer； as a matter
of course； pencil the street and the number on one of the papers
enclosed in a folder on which his own name was elaborately
engrossed。
As he took leave it occurred to him to ask where Susy was
living。 At least he imagined that it had just occurred to him；
and that he was making the enquiry merely as a measure of
precaution； in order to know what quarter of Paris to avoid； but
in reality the question had been on his lips since he had first
entered the office； and lurking in his mind since he had emerged
from the railway station that morning。 The fact of not knowing
where she lived made the whole of Paris a meaningless
unintelligible place； as useless to him as the face of a huge
clock that has lost its hour hand。
The address in Passy surprised him： he had imagined that she
would be somewhere in the neighborhood of the Champs Elysees or
the Place de l'Etoile。 But probably either Mrs。 Melrose or
Ellie Vanderlyn had taken a house at Passy。 Wellit was
something of a relief to know that she was so far off。 No
business called him to that almost suburban region beyond the
Trocadero； and there was much less chance of meeting her than if
she had been in the centre of Paris。
All day he wandered； avoiding the fashionable quarters； the
streets in which private motors glittered five deep； and furred
and feathered silhouettes glided from them into tea…rooms；
picture…galleries and jewellers' shops。 In some such scenes
Susy was no doubt figuring： slenderer； finer； vivider； than the
other images of clay； but imitating their gestures； chattering
their jargon； winding her hand among the same pearls and sables。
He struck away across the Seine； along the quays to the Cite；
the net…work of old Paris； the great grey vaults of St。
Eustache； the swarming streets of the Marais。 He gazed at
monuments dawdled before shop…windows； sat in squares and on
quays； watching people bargain； argue； philander； quarrel； work…
girls stroll past in linked bands； beggars whine on the bridges；
derelicts doze in the pale winter sun； mothers in mourning
hasten by taking children to school； and street…walkers beat
their weary rounds before the cafes。
The day drifted on。 Toward evening he began to grow afraid of
his solitude； and to think of dining at the Nouveau Luxe； or
some other fashionable restaurant where he would be fairly sure
to meet acquaintances； and be carried off to a theatre； a boite
or a dancing…hall。 Anything； anything now； to get away from the
maddening round of his thoughts。 He felt the same blank fear of
solitude as months ago in Genoa 。。。。 Even if he were to run
across Susy and Altringham； what of it？ Better get the job
over。 People had long since ceased to take on tragedy airs
about divorce： dividing couples dined together to the last； and
met afterward in each other's houses； happy in the consciousness
that their respective remarriages had provided two new centres
of entertainment。 Yet most of the couples who took their re…
matings so philosophically had doubtless had their hour of
enchantment； of belief in the immortality of loving； whereas he
and Susy had simply and frankly entered into a business contract
for their mutual advantage。 The fact gave the last touch of
incongruity to his agonies and exaltations； and made him appear
to himself as grotesque and superannuated as the hero of a
romantic novel。
He stood up from a bench on which he had been lounging in the
Luxembourg gardens； and hailed a taxi。 Dusk had fallen； and he
meant to go back to his hotel； take a rest； and then go out to
dine。 But instead； he threw Susy's address to the driver； and
settled down in the cab； resting both hands on the knob of his
umbrella and staring straight ahead of him as if he were
accomplishing some tiresome duty that had to be got through with
before he could turn his mind to more important things。
〃It's the easiest way；〃 he heard himself say。
At the street…cornerher street…cornerhe stopped the cab； and
stood motionless while it rattled away。 It was a short vague
street； much farther off than he had expected； and fading away
at the farther end in a dusky blur of hoardings overhung by
trees。 A thin rain was beginning to fall； and it was already
night in this inadequately lit suburban quarter。 Lansing walked
down the empty street。 The houses stood a few yards apart； with
bare…twigged shrubs between； and gates and railings dividing
them from the pavement。 He could not； at first； distinguish
their numbers； but presently； coming abreast of a street…lamp；
he discovered that the small shabby facade it illuminated was
precisely the one he sought。 The discovery surprised him。 He
had imagined that； as frequently happened in the outlying
quarters of Passy and La Muette； the mean street would lead to a
stately private hotel； built upon some bowery fragment of an old
country…place。 It was the latest whim of the wealthy to
establish themselves on these outskirts of Paris； where there
was still space for verdure； and he had pictured Susy behind
some pillared house…front； with lights pouring across glossy
turf to sculptured gateposts。 Instead； he saw a six…windowed
house； huddled among neighbours of its kind； with the family
wash fluttering between meagre bushes。 The arc…light beat
ironically on its front； which had the worn look of a tired
work…woman's face； and Lansing； as he leaned against the
opposite railing； vainly tried to fit his vision of Susy into so
humble a setting。
The probable explanation was that his lawyer had given him the
wrong address； not only the wrong number but the wrong street。
He pulled out the slip of paper； and was crossing over to
decipher it under the lamp； when an errand…boy appeared out of
the obscurity； and approached the house。 Nick drew back； and
the boy； unlatching the gate； ran up the steps and gave the bell
a pull。
Almost immediately the door opened； and there stood Susy； the
light full upon her； and upon a red…checked child against her
shoulder。 The space behind them was dark； or so dimly lit that
it formed a black background to her vivid figure。 She looked at
the errand…boy without surprise； took his parcel； and after he
had turned away； lingered a moment in the door； glancing down
the empty street。
That moment； to her watcher； seemed quicker than a flash yet as
long as a life…time。 There she was； a stone's throw away； but
utterly unconscious of his presence： his Susy； the old Susy；
and yet a new Susy； curiously transformed； transfigured almost；
by the new attitude in which he beheld her。
In the first shock of the vision he forgot his surprise at her
being in such a place； forgot to wonder whose house she was in；
or whose was the sleepy chil