He changed his mind. He saw the situation in a fresh light. Immediately he felt better. Fate must have intervened to save him from Jean Gabin and the orgy. The words “desert island” filled him with joy. It would be wonderful to spend a quiet evening at home. Outside, the storm could ratde the windows to its heart’s content: he would light the kerosene heater, sit down in the armchair, and try to get a little closer to the other Fima, the real one, instead of wearing himself out with diplomatic efforts to mollify two offended women and then exhausting himself all night to satisfy their appetites. He was particularly delighted that he was relieved, as though by the wave of a magic wand, of the obligation to put his coat and cap on again and go out into the empty, freezing, rain-lashed city. Had he really decided to act like Uri Gefen? To step into his father’s shoes? To start leaping around like a billy-goat again, a shabby, mangy old bear like him? First let’s see you piss once without stuttering.