His family were dead, the friends of his youth married and scattered, and since his withdrawal from the world of letters he had been reduced to complete solitude.

Des Hermies kept him from going stale and then, finding that Durtal had not lost all interest in mankind, promised to introduce him to a really lovable old character.

Of this man Des Hermies spoke much, and one day he said, "You really ought to know him.

He likes the books of yours which I have lent him, and he wants to meet you.

You think I am interested only in obscure and twisted natures.