The Day Of Days

From the book:Smell, P. Sybarite mused aloud.... For an instant he was silent in depression. Then with extraordinary vehemence he continued crescendo: "Stupid-stagnant-sepulchral-sempiternally-sticky-Smell!" He paused for both breath and words-pondered with bended head, knitting his brows forbiddingly. "Supremely squalid, sinisterly sebaceous, sombrely sociable Smell " he pursued violently. Momentarily his countenance cleared; but his smile was as fugitive asthe favour of princes. Vindictively champing the end of a cedar penholder, he groped for expression: "Stygian ... sickening ... surfeiting ... slovenly ... sour...." He shook his head impatiently and clawed the impregnated atmosphere with a tragic hand. "Stench!" he perorated in a voice tremulous with emotion. Even that comprehensive monosyllable was far from satisfactory.