But though Iwas no less convinced than Stroeve that the connection between Strickland andBlanche would end disastrously, I did not expect the issue to take the tragicform it did. The summer came, breathless and sultry, and even at night therewas no coolness to rest one's jaded nerves. The sun-baked streets seemed togive back the heat that had beat down on them during the day, and thepassers-by dragged their feet along them wearily. I had not seen Strickland forweeks. Occupied with other things, I had ceased to think of him and hisaffairs. Dirk, with his vain lamentations, had begun to bore me, and I avoidedhis society. It was a sordid business, and I was not inclined to trouble myselfwith it further.

One morning Iwas working. I sat in my Pyjamas. My thoughts wandered, and I thought of thesunny beaches of Brittany and the freshness of the sea. By my side was theempty bowl in which the concierge had brought me my cafe au lait and thefragment of croissant which I had not had appetite enough to eat. I heard theconcierge in the next room emptying my bath. There was a tinkle at my bell, andI left her to open the door. In a moment I heard Stroeve's voice asking if Iwas in. Without moving, I shouted to him to come. He entered the room quickly,and came up to the table at which I sat.

"She'skilled herself, " he said hoarsely.

"What doyou mean?" I cried, startled.

虽然我同施特略夫一样也认为思特里克兰德同勃朗什的关系将以一场灾难收场，我却没有料到这件事会演成这样一出悲剧。夏天来了，天气郁闷得令人喘不过气来，连夜间也没有一丝凉意，使人们疲劳的神经能够得到一点休息。被太阳晒得炙热的街道好象又把白天吸收的热气散发回来；街头行人疲劳不堪地拖着两只脚。我又有好几个星期没有见到思特里克兰德了。因为忙于其他事务，我甚至连这个人同他们那档子事都不去想了。戴尔克一见到我就长吁短叹，开始叫人生厌；我尽量躲着他不同他在一起。我感到整个这件事龌龊不堪，我不想再为它伤脑筋了。

一天早上，我正在工作，身上还披着睡衣。但是我的思绪却游移不定，浮想联翩。我想到布里坦尼阳光灿烂的海滨和清澈的海水。我身边摆着女看门人给我端来的盛咖啡牛奶的空碗和一块吃剩的月芽形小面包。我的胃口很不好，没能吃完。隔壁的屋子里，女看门人正在把我浴盆里的水放掉。突然，门铃叮铃铃地响起来，我让她去给我开门。不大的工夫我就听到施特略夫的声音，打听我在不在家。我大声招呼他进来，而没有离开我的座位。施特略夫慌慌张张地走了进来，一直走到我坐的桌子前面。

“她死了，”他声音嘶哑地说。

“你说什么？”我吃惊地喊叫起来。