the focus of this novel is based on greville's dissatisfactions and confusions. for instance, although natalia does not make any demands on him, and his wife prefers not to see what is going on, greville is torn between the two women. he wants to be with natalia when he is with his wife and vice versa. what is more, he sees two people in his lover. to anthony greville, natalia is an angelic figure who also symbolizes a diametrical opposite, specifically demonic. this dual perception of his lover leads him call her by two different names ("natalie" and "natalia").