There was no more question of the commissary of police that evening.
As soon as Laurent had the gold in his pocket, he began to lead a riotous life, drinking to excess, and frequenting women of ill-repute.
He slept all day and stayed out all night, in search of violent emotions that would relieve him of reality.

But he only succeeded in becoming more oppressed than before.

When the company were shouting around him, he heard the great, terrible silence within him; when one of his ladyloves kissed him, when he drained his glass, he found naught at the bottom of his satiety, but heavy sadness.
He was no longer a man for lust and gluttony.

His chilled being, as if inwardly rigid, became enervated at the kisses and feasts.

Feeling disgusted beforehand, they failed to arouse his imagination or to excite his senses and stomach.