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By Root 1671 0

of those.” “In fact it hadn’t yet come to be called a crème renversée; it was called,” said M. de Norpois, putting the phrase in inverted commas, “‘creamed eggs.’ What they give you here won’t be up to much. Creamed eggs were so smooth and succulent, do you remember?” But, whether because she did not in fact remember, or because she had talked enough, Mme de Villeparisis said nothing. She relapsed into a long silence which did not offend M. de Norpois, presumably because it did not surprise him and because it must have been one of the characteristics, perhaps one of the charms, of his life with her. And while she laboriously cut up her beans, he went back to telling her how interesting, and on the whole optimistic, the foreign ambassador had been, meanwhile keeping an eye out for a waiter from whom he could order their dessert. Before this had been served, my mother and I rose from the table, and, while keeping my head turned away so as not to attract their attention, I could nevertheless still see the two aged lovers, seemingly indifferent to one another, but in reality bent by time like two branches which have developed the same tilt, which have drawn so close to each other that they almost touch, and which nothing will ever either straighten up or separate again.

This was perhaps what might have happened to me in the long run if Albertine had lived. And yet, comforting though it must after all be, since worldly men and women sacrifice social life and ambition for it, I felt no regret that what might have been had failed to come about, so impervious had I become to the memory of Albertine. I cannot however say that sometimes in the evening, when we returned to our hotel (for, since our encounter with the old Villeparisis-Norpois couple, my mother had decided against our dining elsewhere), I did not feel, in the nervous restlessness of nightfall, that the Albertine of long ago, invisible to myself …

Synopsis

THE CAPTIVE

Life with Albertine. Street sounds (1). Albertine and I under the same roof (2). My mother’s disapproval (6). My irregular sleeping habits (9). Françoise’s respect for tradition (9). Intellectual development and physical change in Albertine (12). My confidence in Andrée (15). I advise against a trip with Andrée to the Buttes-Chaumont (16). I no longer love Albertine, but my jealousy subsists (16). Ubiquity of Gomorrah (20). The virtues of solitude (22). I long to be free of Albertine (26). Jealousy, a spasmodic disease (28).

Visits to the Duchesse de Guermantes (30). What survives of the magic of her name (32; cf. III 28). The Fortuny dresses (34). Attraction of the Duchess’s conversation (34—39). Mme de Chaussepierre (41–42; cf. IV 98). Digression about the Dreyfus case (43–44).

M. de Charlus and Morel chez Jupien (48). “Stand you tea” (49). M. de Charlus receives a note from a club doorman (51). Natural distinction of Jupien’s niece (55). M. de Charlus delighted at the prospect of her marriage with Morel (55). Morel’s capricious sentiments and pathological irritability (59).

The syringa incident (64; cf. 812). Waiting for Albertine’s return: pleasures of art (65). Change in her since she has sensed my jealousy (67). Andrée’s defects; her calumnies about “I’m a wash-out” (70; cf. 815). Reports on her outings with Albertine (71). Albertine’s taste and elegance (75). Variability of the nature of girls (77). Persistence of my desire for the fleeting image of Albertine at Balbec (81). Albertine asleep (84). Watching her sleeping (86), and waking (90). The soothing power of her kiss, comparable to that of my mother at Combray (93). My increasing resemblance to all my relations (95).

Changes of weather; their effect on my indolence (100) and on my jealous suspicions (103). Bloch’s cousin Esther (105). Albertine’s plan to visit Mme Verdurin (108). I suggest other expeditions (113). A “fugitive being” (113–16). Françoise’s hostile prophecies about Albertine (122). Telephone call to Andrée about Albertine’s visit to the Verdurins (124). But can I trust Andrée? (128). Albertine tries to dissuade me