The coffee was thick and bitter. The first sip made him dizzy, but the second steadied him. He closed his eyes and went back under the yellow counterpane at the club. The girl had invited him to unlace her corset. And he had tried to oblige her (horrors!) but the drink had turned his hands into useless paws, and she’d had to take over the job. Then she’d gotten on top of him in the bed and started undoing his shirt buttons. He’d seen her fingers working away at them, and her white face coming down close to his. She’d kissed him, or tried to. It was when she’d pushed her breasts into his face that the cloying perfume had become overpowering. He’d vomited.

The front door banged shut, and Marie-Claire came back into the kitchen and sat down at the table. The boy had gone.

He’d vomited everywhere. On the yellow bedding, on himself, on the girl. And then Madame Hubert had come into the room with a look of utter disdain and disgust on her face and started shouting at him.

“My clothes…” He couldn’t get any further.

“I’ve given them a good wash. But they’re still wet, I’m afraid. I’ll fetch you some of Gaston’s. He was about the same height as you.”

“Thank you.” He swallowed another mouthful of coffee. “Last night…I hope I wasn’t…I hope I didn’t…”

“No, no!” But did she say it too quickly? Too adamantly? “You were rather the worse for wear. Gaston used to get like that sometimes. I suppose all men do.”

“I never have before,” he said. “And never will again.” Their eyes met. Hers were a soft, squirrelly brown. She was attractive, in a quiet sort of way. Slightly plump, but in the right places. And thoroughly decent.

“I don’t know why I came here,” he said. “Frankly, I’m surprised I even remembered your address. It’s not as if I’ve been here before. I don’t know how to apologize for all the trouble I’ve given you.”

“I’m glad you came here,” she said. “Perhaps you knew I’d take care of you. I’d always take care of you, Robert.”

“Would you?” There was an ache in his chest.

She got up and went over to the sink, brusque again. “Better here than lying in some alleyway with your watch and your wallet missing.”

“I’m so tired.” As he said it, he felt overwhelmed with exhaustion. “I don’t know what to do.”

“Why don’t you go back to bed for a while? I’ll leave Gaston’s suit outside the door for you, and I’ll bring your clothes back to work tomorrow. I have to get along to the office now, but you can let yourself out.”

“You have to get to the office?” A dry chuckle.