She went away about four o’clock in the morning. Her husband had been sleeping since
midnight, in a little deserted anteroom, with three other gentlemen whose wives were having a
very good time.
He threw over her shoulders the wraps which he had brought, modest wraps of common life,
whose poverty contrasted with the elegance of the ball dress. She felt this and wanted to escape
so as not to be remarked by the other women, who were enveloping themselves in costly furs.
Loisel held her back.
“Wait a bit. You will catch cold outside. I will go and call a cab.”
But she did not listen to him, and rapidly descended the stairs. When they were in the street
they did not find a carriage; and they began to look for one, shouting after the cabmen whom
they saw passing by at a distance.