It seemed to him, then, that he must lose Lygia; and at this thought he lost the remnant of balance which Petronius wished to preserve in him.

There were moments in which he did not know whether he loved Lygia or hated her; he understood only that he must find her, and he would rather that the earth swallowed her than that he should not see and possess her.

By the power of imagination he saw her as clearly at times as if she had been before his face.

He recalled every word which he had spoken to her; every word which he had heard from her.

He felt her near; felt her on his bosom, in his arms; and then desire embraced him like a flame.