She watched my movements with a vexed look in her wide open eyes, without appearing either astonished or satisfied at my forethought. "Here is all that you require," I then said; "I will tell you when supper is ready." When I returned to the sitting-room I found that Paul had taken possession of the other room, and had shut himself in, so I sat down to wait. A waiter went backwards and forwards, bringing plates and glasses. He laid the table slowly, then put a cold fowl on it, and told me that all was ready. I knocked gently at Mademoiselle Rondoli's door. "Come in," she said, and when I did so I was struck by a strong, heavy smell of perfumes, as if I were in a hairdresser's and perfumer's shop. The Italian was sitting on her box in an attitude either of thoughtful discontent or absent-mindedness. The towel was still folded over the water-jug that was quite full, and the soap, untouched and dry, was laying beside the empty basin; but one would have thought that the young woman had drunk half of the bottles of scent. The eau de cologne, however, had been spared, as only about a third of it had gone; but to make up for that she had used a surprising amount of lavender-water and new-mown hay. A cloud of violet-powder, a vague white mist, seemed still to be floating in the air, from the effects of her over-powdering her face and neck. It seemed to cover her eyelashes, eyebrows, and the hair on her temples like snow, while her cheeks were plastered with it, and layers of it covered her nostrils, the corners of her eyes, and her chin. When she got up she exhaled such a strong odor of scent that it almost made me feel faint. When she sat down to supper, I found that Paul was in a most execrable temper, and I could get nothing out of him but blame, irritable words, and disagreeable compliments. Mademoiselle Francesca ate like an ogre, and as soon as she had finished her meal she threw herself upon the sofa. As for me, I saw the decisive moment approaching for settling how we were to apportion the rooms. I determined to take the bull by the horns, and sitting down by the Italian I said gallantly, kissing her hand: "As we have only two bedrooms, will you allow me to share yours with you?" "Do just as you like," she said. "It is all the same to me. _Che mi fa_?" Her indifference vexed me. "But you are sure you do not mind my being in your room with you?" I said. "It is all the same to me; do just as you like." "Should you like to go to bed at once?" "Yes; I am very sleepy." She got up, yawned, gave Paul her hand, who took it with a furious look, and I lighted her into our room. A disquieting feeling haunted me. "Here is all you want," I said again. This time I took care to pour half the water into the basin, and to put a towel near the soap.