He possessed the power. He held it in his hand. A power stronger than the power of money or the power of terror or the power of death: the invincible power to command the love of mankind. There was only one thing that power could not do: it could not make him able to smell himself.

He had withdrawn solely for his own personal pleasure, only to be near to himself. No longer distracted by anything external, he basked in his own existence and found it splendid.

He was not bound. No one led him by the arm. He got out of the carriage as if he were a free man.

He had preserved the best part of her and made it his own: the principle of her scent.

He decided in favor of life out of sheer spite and malice.

People left him alone. And that was all he wanted.

He had escaped the abhorrent taint! He was truly completely alone! He was the only human being in the world!