than you.”  The tears flowed fast down her cheeks, her head rested on my shoulder, and our lips met; but for all that the piece was over.  The idea of renewing the attack never came into my head, and if it had I should have scornfully rejected it.  After a long silence, of which we both stood in need, she to conquer her shame, and I to repress my anger, we put on our masks and returned to the opera.  On our way she dared to tell me that she should be obliged to decline my friendship if she had to pay for it so dearly.

“The emotions of love,” I replied, “should yield to those of honour, and your honour as well as mine require us to continue friends.  What I would have done for love I will now do for devoted friendship, and for the future I will die rather than make another attempt to gain those favours of which I thought you deemed me worthy.”

We separated at the opera, and the vast crowd made me lose sight of her in an instant.  Next day she told me that she had danced all night.  She possibly hoped to find in that exercise the cure which no medicine seemed likely to give her.

I returned to my house in a bad humour, trying in vain to justify a refusal which seemed humiliating and almost incredible.  My good sense shewed me, in spite of all sophisms, that I had been grievously insulted.  I recollected the witty saying of Populia, who was never unfaithful to her husband except when she was with child; “Non tollo vectorem,” said she, “nisi navi plena.”

I felt certain that I was not loved, and the thought grieved me; and I considered that it would be unworthy of me to love one whom I could no longer hope to possess.  I resolved to avenge myself by leaving her to her fate, feeling that I could not allow myself to be duped as I had been.

The night brought wisdom with it, and when I awoke in the morning my mind was calm and I was still in love.  I determined to act generously by the unfortunate girl.  Without my aid she would be ruined; my course, then, would be to continue my services and to shew myself indifferent to her favours.  The part was no easy one, but I played it right well, and at last my reward came of itself.

CHAPTER VII

I Continue My Relations With Mdlle.  X. C. V.—­Vain Attempts to Procure Abortion—­The Aroph—­She Flies From Home and Takes Refuge in a Convent

The difficulties I encountered only served to increase my love for my charming Englishwoman.  I went to see her every morning, and as my interest in her condition was genuine, she could have no suspicion that I was acting a part, or attribute my care of her to anything but the most delicate feelings.  For her part she seemed well pleased in the alteration of my behaviour, though her satisfaction may very probably have been assumed.  I understood women well enough to know that though she did not love me she was probably annoyed at seeing my new character sit upon me so easily.