He has lived for a month upon a wood which M.de Rosny has cut down.

I will mention your name to him, but I should be cruel rather than kind were I not to warn you that nothing can come of it.' With that he offered me his hand, and, cheered as much by this mark of consideration as by the kindness of his expressions, I rallied my spirits.

True, I wanted comfort more substantial, but it was not to be had.

I thanked him therefore as becomingly as I could, and seeing there was no help for it, took my leave of him, and slowly and sorrowfully withdrew from the room.
Alas! to escape I had to face the outside world, for which his kind words were an ill preparation.

I had to run the gauntlet of the antechamber.