I comforted her, consoled her, lifted her up, then helped her to her feet.

“You can’t stay here like this,” I said, “come on …”

“I’m not sure I can manage to walk …”

“I’ll help you, don’t worry.”

“Thank you, Monsieur, you’re very kind. Did you have someone here yourself you wanted to mourn?”

“Yes, Madame.”

“A lady?”

“Yes, Madame.”

“Your wife?”

“A … friend.”

“One can love a friend as much as a wife. Passion has its own laws.”

“Indeed so, Madame.”

We walked away together, she leaning on me so heavily that I was almost carrying her along the paths of the cemetery. As we were leaving it, she said: “I think I’m going to faint.”

“Would you like to go in and sit down somewhere? Let me get you something to …”

“Yes thank you, I would.”

I noticed a place nearby, one of those restaurants where the friends of the recently buried go when they have completed their grim duties. We went in and I made her drink a cup of hot tea which seemed to restore her strength somewhat. A faint smile came to her lips and she began to tell me a little about herself. How sad, how very sad it was to be all alone in the world, to be alone at home day and night, to have no one with whom to share love, trust and intimacy.

It all seemed sincere and so genuine the way she told it. I felt my heart softening. She was very young, twenty at most. I flattered her a little and she responded gracefully. Then, as time was getting on, I offered to take her home by cab. She accepted. In the cab we were so close to each other, shoulder to shoulder, that we could feel the warmth of each other’s bodies through our clothing – one of the most disturbing feelings in the world, as you know. When the cab drew up in front of her house she murmured: “I really don’t think I can get up the stairs on my own. I live on the fourth floor. You’ve been so kind … could you possibly give me your arm again, please?”

I said of course I could, and she went up slowly, breathing hard all the time. Then at her door she added: “Do come in for a few moments so that I can thank you.”

In I went, naturally.