The linen was crackling between his fingers, and splinters of ice were breaking off.  He was obliged to wait until the heat produced a slight thaw, and then with great care he stripped the figure, baring the head first, then the bosom, and then the hips, well pleased at finding everything intact, and smiling like a lover at a woman fondly adored.

‘Well, what do you think of it?’

Claude, who had only previously seen a little rough model of the statue, nodded his head, in order that he might not have to answer immediately.  Decidedly, that good fellow Mahoudeau was turning traitor, and drifting towards gracefulness, in spite of himself, for pretty things ever sprang from under his big fingers, former stonecutter though he was.  Since his colossal ‘Vintaging Girl,’ he had gone on reducing and reducing the proportions of his figures without appearing to be aware of it himself, always ready to stick out ferociously for the gigantic, which agreed with his temperament, but yielding to the partiality of his eyes for sweetness and gracefulness.  And indeed real nature broke at last through inflated ambition.  Exaggerated still, his ‘Bathing Girl’ was already possessed of great charm, with her quivering shoulders and her tightly-crossed arms that supported her breast.

‘Well, you don’t like her?’ he asked, looking annoyed.

’Oh, yes, I do!  I think you are right to tone things down a bit, seeing that you feel like that.  You’ll have a great success with this.  Yes, it’s evident it will please people very much.’

Mahoudeau, whom such praises would once have thrown into consternation, seemed delighted.  He explained that he wished to conquer public opinion without relinquishing a tithe of his convictions.

‘Ah! dash it! it takes a weight off my mind to find you pleased,’ said he, ’for I should have destroyed it if you had told me to do so, I give you my word!  Another fortnight’s work, and I’ll sell my skin to no matter whom in order to pay the moulder.  I say, I shall have a fine show at the Salon, perhaps get a medal.’

He laughed, waved his arms about, and then, breaking off: 

’As we are not in a hurry, sit down a bit.  I want to get the wraps quite thawed.’

The stove, which was becoming red hot, diffused great heat.  The figure, placed close by, seemed to revive under the warm air that now crept up her from her shins to her neck.  And the two friends, who had sat down, continued looking the statue full in the face, chatting about it and noting each detail.  The sculptor especially grew excited in his delight, and indulged in caressing gestures.

All at once, however, Claude fancied he was the victim of some hallucination.  To him the figure seemed to be moving; a quiver like the ripple of a wavelet crossed her stomach, and her left hip became straightened, as if the right leg were about to step out.

‘Have you noticed the smooth surface just about the loins?’ Mahoudeau went on, without noticing anything.  ’Ah, my boy, I took great pains over that!’