Hisangeragainsther，againstherwhowasthecauseofallhismisfortunes，vanishedbeforehisextremeneedforsomekindofconsolation。Perhaps——ifhemustresignhimselftohisfate——shemighthelphimtoforget。Toforget！Foramoment，inanaccessofdespairsoprofoundthatitseemedlikethebeginningofpeace，heplannedthedeliberatedescentfromhispedestal，thethrowingawayofhissuperiority，ofallhishopes，ofoldambitions，oftheungratefulcivilization。Foramoment，forgetfulnessinherarmsseemedpossible；andluredbythatpossibilitythesemblanceofreneweddesirepossessedhisbreastinaburstofrecklesscontemptforeverythingoutsidehimself——inasavagedisdainofEarthandofHeaven。Hesaidtohimselfthathewouldnotrepent。Thepunishmentforhisonlysinwastooheavy。TherewasnomercyunderHeaven。Hedidnotwantany。Hethought，desperately，thatifhecouldfindwithheragainthemadnessofthepast，thestrangedeliriumthathadchangedhim，thathadworkedhisundoing，hewouldbereadytopayforitwithaneternityofperdition。Hewasintoxicatedbythesubtleperfumesofthenight；hewascarriedawaybythesuggestivestirofthewarmbreeze；hewaspossessedbytheexaltationofthesolitude，ofthesilence，ofhismemories，inthepresenceofthatfigureofferingherselfinasubmissiveandpatientdevotion；comingtohiminthenameofthepast，inthenameofthosedayswhenhecouldseenothing，thinkofnothing，desirenothing——butherembrace。
Hetookhersuddenlyinhisarms，andsheclaspedherhandsroundhisneckwithalowcryofjoyandsurprise。Hetookherinhisarmsandwaitedforthetransport，forthemadness，forthesensationsrememberedandlost；andwhileshesobbedgentlyonhisbreastheheldherandfeltcold，sick，tired，exasperatedwithhisfailure——andendedbycursinghimself。Sheclungtohimtremblingwiththeintensityofherhappinessandherlove。Heheardherwhispering——herfacehiddenonhisshoulder——ofpastsorrow，ofcomingjoythatwouldlastforever；ofherunshakenbeliefinhislove。Shehadalwaysbelieved。Always！Evenwhilehisfacewasturnedawayfromherinthedarkdayswhilehismindwaswanderinginhisownland，amongsthisownpeople。
Butitwouldneverwanderawayfromheranymore，nowithadcomeback。Hewouldforgetthecoldfacesandthehardheartsofthecruelpeople。Whatwastheretoremember？Nothing？Wasitnotso？……
Helistenedhopelesslytothefaintmurmur。Hestoodstillandrigid，pressinghermechanicallytohisbreastwhilehethoughtthattherewasnothingforhimintheworld。Hewasrobbedofeverything；robbedofhispassion，ofhisliberty，offorgetfulness，ofconsolation。She，wildwithdelight，whisperedonrapidly，oflove，oflight，ofpeace，oflongyears……Helookeddrearilyaboveherheaddownintothedeepergloomofthecourtyard。And，allatonce，itseemedtohimthathewaspeeringintoasombrehollow，intoadeepblackholefullofdecayandofwhitenedbones；intoanimmenseandinevitablegravefullofcorruptionwheresoonerorlaterhemust，unavoidably，fall。
Inthemorninghecameoutearly，andstoodforatimeinthedoorway，listeningtothelightbreathingbehindhim——inthehouse。Sheslept。Hehadnotclosedhiseyesthroughallthatnight。Hestoodswaying——thenleanedagainstthelintelofthedoor。Hewasexhausted，doneup；fanciedhimselfhardlyalive。