I spoil you with care and attentions because you are the spiritual vent of solitude and celibacy, but that doesn't prevent you, with your spiteful way of looking at me, from being insufferable at times, as you are today, for instance!" The cat continued to stare at him, its ears sticking straight up as if they would catch the sense of his words from the inflections of his voice.

It understood, doubtless, that Durtal was not disposed to jump out of bed, for it went back to its old place, but now turned its back full on him.
"Oh come," said Durtal, discouraged, looking at his watch, "I've simply got to get up and go to work on Gilles de Rais," and with a bound he sprang into his trousers.

The cat, rising suddenly, galloped across the counterpane and rolled itself up into the warm covers, without waiting an instant longer.
"How cold it is!" and Durtal slipped on a knit jacket and went into the other room to start a fire.

"I shall freeze!" he murmured.
Fortunately his apartment was easy to heat.

It consisted simply of a hall, a tiny sitting-room, a minute bedroom, and a large enough bathroom.