And he believed himself intelligent! And he proudly imagined he could arrange things beforehand so well that he would never be surprised! What he should have foreseen would come to pass, nothing more; the lesson that experience taught him was hard, and this was not the first one; the evening of Caffie's death he saw very clearly that a new situation opened before him, which to the end of his life would make him the prisoner of his crime. To tell the truth, however, this impression became faint soon enough; but now it was stronger than ever, and to a certainty, never to be dismissed again. But it was useless to look behind; it was the present and the future that he must measure with a clear and firm glance, if he did not wish to be lost. After carefully examining and weighing the question, he decided to have his hair and beard cut. However adventurous this resolution was, however embarrassing it might become in provoking curiosity and questions, it was the only way of escaping a possible recognition. Mechanically, by habit, he bent his steps toward the Rue Neuve-des- Petits-Champs, where his barber lived, but he had taken only a few steps when reflection caused him to stop; it would be certainly a mistake to provoke the gossip of this man who, knew him, and who, for the pleasure of talking, would tell every one in the quarter that he had just cut the hair and beard of Dr. Saniel. He returned to the boulevard, where he was not known. But as he was about to open the door of the shop which he decided to enter, he changed his mind. He happened to find the explanation that he must give Phillis, and as he wished to avoid the surprise that she would not fail to show if she saw him suddenly without hair and beard, he would give this explanation before having them cut, in such a way that all at once and without looking for another reason, she would understand that this operation was indispensable. And he went to dinner, furious with himself and with things, to see to what miserable expedients he was reduced. CHAPTER XXVIII SANIEL VISITS A BARBER The following day at five o'clock when Phillis rang, he opened the door for her. Hardly had she entered when she was about to throw herself into his arms as usual, with a quickness that told how happy she was to see him. But he checked her with his hand. "What is the matter?" she asked paralyzed and full of fears. "Nothing; or, at least nothing much." "Against me?" "Certainly not, dear one." "You are ill?" "No, not ill, but I must take precautions which prevent me from embracing you. I will explain; do not be uneasy, it is not serious." "Quick!" she cried, examining him, and trying to anticipate his thought. "You have something to tell me?" "Yes, good news. But I beg of you, speak first; do not leave me in suspense." "I assure you that you need not be uneasy; and when I speak thus, you know that you should believe me. You see that I am not uneasy."