He dared not touch a brush.

He had made fresh attempts at painting, but only to find on each occasion, the head of Camille appear jeering on the canvas.

So as not to go out of his mind, he ended by throwing his colour-box into a corner, and imposing the most absolute idleness on himself.

This obligatory laziness weighed upon him terribly.
In the afternoon, he questioned himself in distress to find out what he should do.

For half an hour, he remained on the pavement in the Rue Mazarine, thinking and hesitating as to how he could divert himself.