Onebyone, asthecharactersofacryptographbecomeexplicit, thelittlesignsleftbythefurnishedroom', rayingliketheshadowofaburstingbomb, "Marie".Itseemedthatthesuccessionofdwellersinthefurnishedroomhadturnedinfury—perhapstemptedbeyondforbearancebyitsgarishcoldness—;thecouch, distortedbyburstingsprings, ;andyetitmayhavebeenthecheatedhomeinstinctsurvivingblindly, .
Theyoungtenantinthechairallowedthesethoughtstofile, soft-shod, throughhismind, , slacklaughter;inothersthemonologueofascold, therattlingofdice, alullaby, andonecryingdully;;theelevatedtrainsroaredintermittently;—adanksavourratherthanasmell—acold, mustyeffluviumasfromundergroundvaultsmingledwiththereekingexhalationsoflinoleumandmildewedandrottenwoodwork.
Then, suddenly, asherestedthere, theroomwasfilledwiththestrong, , "What, dear?" asifhehadbeencalled, , ?, wasitnotthesoundthathadtouched, thathadcaressedhim?
"Shehasbeeninthisroom," hecried, andhesprangtowrestfromitatoken, , theodourthatshehadlovedandmadeherown—whencecameit?
—thosediscreet, indistinguishablefriendsofwomankind, feminineofgender, , , tiny, ;, atheatreprogramme, apawnbroker'scard, twolostmarshmallows, 'sblacksatinhairbow, whichhaltedhim, 'sdemure, impersonal, commonornament, andtellsnotales.
