But it would be too cruel to wake her.

He subdued himself, and went away.
Hearing voices coming from the sitting-room, Halliday talking to Libidnikov, he went to the door and glanced in.

He had on a silk wrap of a beautiful bluish colour, with an amethyst hem.
To his surprise he saw the two young men by the fire, stark naked.
Halliday looked up, rather pleased.
'Good-morning,' he said.

'Oh--did you want towels ?' And stark naked he went out into the hall, striding a strange, white figure between the unliving furniture.

He came back with the towels, and took his former position, crouching seated before the fire on the fender.
'Don't you love to feel the fire on your skin ?' he said.
'It IS rather pleasant,' said Gerald.
'How perfectly splendid it must be to be in a climate where one could do without clothing altogether,' said Halliday.
'Yes,' said Gerald, 'if there weren't so many things that sting and bite.' 'That's a disadvantage,' murmured Maxim.
Gerald looked at him, and with a slight revulsion saw the human animal, golden skinned and bare, somehow humiliating.