He felt so horribly sad that he was physically afraid to remain alone in the house.

But whither should he go?
Mechanically he repaired to the club, although it was too early to meet many of the members there.

He came upon Pietrapertosa and Cibo, who had dined there, and who, seated on one of the divans, were conferring in whispers with the gravity of two ambassadors discussing the Bulgarian or Egyptian question.
"You have a very nervous air," they said to Boleslas, "you who were in such good form this afternoon." "Yes," said Cibo, "you should have dined with us as we asked you to." "When one is to fight a duel," continued Pietrapertosa, sententiously, "one should see neither one's wife nor one's mistress.

Madame Gorka suspects nothing, I hope ?" "Absolutely nothing," replied Boleslas; "you are right.

I should have done better not to have left you.