Her fingers, for appearances' sake, barely touched the rough cloth of my sleeve.

All this had occurred so swiftly, so suddenly, that I was yet bewildered, unable to decide on a course of action.

The girl, I noticed, was breathing heavily from excitement, her eyes cast down upon the wet pavement.

Once, beneath the glow of the lamp at the first corner, I ventured to glance slyly aside at her, in curiosity, mentally photographing the clear outline of her features, the strands of light brown hair straggling rebelliously from beneath the wide brim of the hat.

I was of rather reckless nature, careless, and indifferent in my relationship with women.