When he was in the warmth beneath the bedclothes, he again thought of Therese, whom fright had driven from his mind.

Do what he would, obstinately close his eyes, endeavour to sleep, he felt his thoughts at work commanding his attention, connecting one with the other, to ever point out to him the advantage he would reap by marrying as soon as possible.

Ever and anon he would turn round, saying to himself: "I must not think any more; I shall have to get up at eight o'clock to-morrow morning to go to my office." And he made an effort to slip off to sleep.

But the ideas returned one by one.

The dull labour of his reasoning began again; and he soon found himself in a sort of acute reverie that displayed to him in the depths of his brain, the necessity for his marriage, along with the arguments his desire and prudence advanced in turn, for and against the possession of Therese.
Then, seeing he was unable to sleep, that insomnia kept his body in a state of irritation, he turned on his back, and with his eyes wide open, gave up his mind to the young woman.