'The Moon and Sixpence' by Somerset Maugham (chapter 11 - 20)

Having come to Paris and found Charles, the writer's doubts were dispelled as Mr. Strickland lived in a small room, overcrowded with furniture; everything was dirty and shabby, and, besides, there was no sign of a woman. He expected that his wife would send someone for him, that's why he was so cool, his eyes kept such a smile which made everything foolish, and he just invited his guest for the dinner. However, he burst into a shout of laughter, knowing of his wife's supposition about another woman, as he came there not for that but because he wanted to paint. 

   Charles Strickland hadn't painted before, with the exception of the childhood when he wanted to be a painter. He started painting a year ago and said nothing to his wife. Sometimes, it seemed, the man was looking into the distance, as if he saw something beautiful that stirred up his mind; he was trying to achieve some aim, but did not know what it was. So Charles came to Paris to find something that he could not find in London, he even began going to classes. While he was telling that, there was a real passion in his voice, as he was fully convinced to be a painter. 

   Mrs. Strickland, having known about he husband passion, was amazed, she could not understand the cause of his behavior. And if earlier the woman was ready to return him, that time she gave up, as her husband left her not for a woman but for an idea, and there she would lose. But she did not stop fighting fot her life, as Mrs. Strickland had no penny to her name and that's why she began to learn shorthand and typewriting. Five years later the woman made success of her business: that time she had an office in Chancery Lane. 

   Meanwhile, her friend loved in Paris and made friends with Dirk Stroeve, a painter, and though he had a very delicate feeling for art, he was a bad one. The man knew Charles: once Mr. Strickland came to him to lent money as he was hard up for them - he sold no pictures.