Unabashed by the presence of three strange people, he showered his
caresses upon his companion every minute, and, it must be said,
sufficiently coarse ones. With the unceremoniousness of an owner,
with that especial egoism of one in love, who, it would seem, is
saying to the whole universe: "See, how happy we are--this makes
you happy also, isn't that so?"--he would now pass his hand over
her leg, which resiliently and in relief stood out beneath her
dress, now pinch her on the cheek, now tickle her neck with his
stiff, black, turned-up moustache ... But, even though he did
sparkle with delight, there was still something rapacious, wary,
uneasy to be glimpsed in his frequently winking eyes, in the
twitching of the upper lip, and in the harsh outline of his
shaved, square chin, jutting out, with a scarcely noticeable dent
in the middle.
Opposite this infatuated couple were placed three passengers--a
retired general, a spare, neat little old man, with pomade on his
hair, with curls combed forward to the temples; a stout land-
owner, who had taken off his starched collar, but was still
gasping from the heat and mopping his face every minute with a wet
handkerchief; and a young infantry officer.
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