The Equinox (Volume I, Number II)

THE EQUINOX “Such a one is ripe for adventure, and since, as your great poet has said, ‘Circumstance bows before those who never miss a chance,’ it was perhaps only a matter of time before I met with one. “Indeed (I will tell you, for it will help you to under- stand my story), I once found myself in an extremely absurd position through my fantastic trust in the impeccability of woman, “Tt was rather late one night, and I was walking home through a deserted street, when two brutal-looking ruffians came towards me, between them a young and beautiful girl, her face flushed with shame, and screaming with pain; for the savages had each firm hold of one arm, and were forcing her at a rapid pace—to what vile den ? “ My fist in the face of one and my foot in the stomach of the other! They sprawled in the road, and, disdaining them, I turned my back and offered my arm to the girl. She, in an excess of gratitude, flung her arms round my neck and began to kiss me furiously—the first kiss I had ever had from a woman, mind you! Maybe I would not have been altogether displeased, but that she stank so foully of brandy that—my gorge rises at the memory. The ruffians, more surprised than hurt, began laughing, but kept well away. I tried to induce the girl to come home; in the end she lost her temper, and fell to belabouring me with her fists. Iwas not strong enough or experienced enough to contend with a madwoman, and I could not allow myself to strike her. She beat me sore... . “T can remember the scene now as if it were yesterday: the bewildered boy, the screaming, swearing, kicking, scratch- ing woman, the two ‘savages’ (honest Jourgeois enough!) 114