But he understood that there might be collateral causes, and among them his unhappy love for Pani Elzen, and the parting with her. These thoughts filled him with sadness. The corpse of Kresovich, with lips fixed as if for whistling, and with the terror before death in his eyes, did not leave the artist's mind. But he thought that no one would sink into that terrible night without dread, and that all life, in view of the inevitableness of death, is one immense, tragic absurdity; and he returned to Pani Elzen in great depression of spirit. She drew a deep breath of relief when she learned that Kresovich had left no papers. She declared that she would send as much money as might be needed for his funeral; and only then did she speak of him with a certain regret. She strove in vain, however, to detain Svirski for a couple of hours. He answered that he was not himself that day, and must return home. "Then we shall meet in the evening," said she, giving him her hand at parting. "I intended even to drop in at Nice and go with you." "Where?" asked Svirski, with astonishment. "Have you forgotten? To the 'Formidable.'" "Ah! Are you going to that ball?" "If you knew how weighed down I am, especially after such a sad event, you would weep over me. I am sorry, too, for that poor fellow; but it is necessary--it is necessary even for this reason, that people should not make suppositions." "Is it? Till we meet again!" said Svirski. And a moment later, while sitting in the train, he said to himself,-- "If I go with you to the 'Formidable,' or any other place, I am a dead crab!" CHAPTER VIII. But next morning, he received Pani Cervi and Panna Maria with a gladder heart. At sight of the fair, fresh face of the girl even delight seized him. Everything had been prepared in the studio; the easel was in its place; the sofa for the model pushed forward and covered properly. Pani Lageat had received the strictest command not to admit any one, not even "Queen Victoria herself," should she come. Svirski now opened and now closed the curtains which hid the window of the skylight; but while drawing the cords he looked unceasingly at his charming model. Meanwhile the ladies removed their hats, and Panna Maria inquired,-- "What must I do now?" "First of all, it is necessary to let down your hair," said Svirski. He approached her, and she raised both hands to her head. It was clear that this confused her somewhat, and seemed strange, but also nice. Svirski gazed at her confused face, at her drooping eyelashes, at her form bent backward, at her exquisite outline of hips, and said to himself that, in that great dust heap of Nice, he had discovered a genuine double pearl. The hair fell, after a moment, on her shoulders. Panna Maria shook her head, wishing to spread her hair, which then covered her completely. "Corpo Dio!" exclaimed Svirski. Then came the turn for a more difficult task,--placing the model.