But it was the end of everything; he had not the axe! He was overwhelmed.
"What made me think," he reflected, as he went under the gateway, "what made me think that she would be sure not to be at home at that moment! Why, why, why did I assume this so certainly ?" He was crushed and even humiliated.

He could have laughed at himself in his anger....

A dull animal rage boiled within him.
He stood hesitating in the gateway.

To go into the street, to go a walk for appearance' sake was revolting; to go back to his room, even more revolting.

"And what a chance I have lost for ever!" he muttered, standing aimlessly in the gateway, just opposite the porter's little dark room, which was also open.