He nodded and turned off to the left at the next corner.
On the big street Catherine watched for a shop.
"Here's a place," she said.
I stopped the driver and Catherine got out, walked across the sidewalk and went inside.
I sat back in the carriage and waited for her.
It was raining and I could smell the wet street and the horse steaming in the rain.
She came back with a package and got in and we drove on.
"I was very extravagant, darling," she said, "but it's a fine night-gown."
At the hotel I asked Catherine to wait in the carriage while I went in and spoke to the manager.
There were plenty of rooms.
Then I went out to the carriage, paid the driver, and Catherine and I walked in together.
The small boy in buttons carried the package. The manager bowed us toward the elevator.
There was much red plush and brass.
The manager went up in the elevator with us.
"Monsieur and Madame wish dinner in their rooms?"
"Yes.
Will you have the menu brought up?" I said.
"You wish something special for dinner.
Some game or a soufflй?"
The elevator passed three floors with a click each time, then clicked and stopped.
"What have you as game?"
"I could get a pheasant, or a woodcock."
"A woodcock," I said.
We walked down the corridor.
The carpet was worn.
There were many doors.
The manager stopped and unlocked a door and opened it.
"Here you are.
A lovely room."
The small boy in buttons put the package on the table in the centre of the room.
The manager opened the curtains.
"It is foggy outside," he said.
The room was furnished in red plush.
There were many mirrors, two chairs and a large bed with a satin coverlet.
A door led to the bathroom.
"I will send up the menu," the manager said.
He bowed and went out.
I went to the window and looked out, then pulled a cord that shut the thick plush curtains.
Catherine was sitting on the bed, looking at the cut glass chandelier.
She had taken her hat off and her hair shone under the light.
She saw herself in one of the mirrors and put her hands to her hair.
I saw her in three other mirrors.
She did not look happy.
She let her cape fall on the bed.
"What's the matter, darling?"
"I never felt like a whore before," she said.
I went over to the window and pulled the curtain aside and looked out.
I had not thought it would be like this.
"You're not a whore."
"I know it, darling.