Pleasant acquaintances he had, by the score and the hundred, in society, and amongst artists and men of letters.

But the life he had led had shut out friendship.

To have a friend would have been to let some one into his life, and that would have meant, sooner or later, the betrayal of the woman he loved.
Yet, though he felt that Taquisara was his enemy and not his friend, he had such sudden confidence in the man's honour and truth that he was insanely impelled to go to him and tell him all, and implore him to save Veronica at any cost, no matter what, or to whom.

Then of course, a moment later, the thought seemed madness, and he only felt that he was losing hold more quickly upon his saner sense.

His visit to the somnambulist, too, had helped to unnerve him, and as he wandered through the streets he forgot that it was time to eat, so that physical faintness came upon him unawares and suddenly.
He did not wish to go home; for if he did, the final decision would be thrust upon him by Matilde, and he did not feel that he could face another scene with her yet.