“I did not know what answer to give her, and I made this philosophical reflection to myself:  ‘Oh! female brain, here indeed you show yourself!’

“While speaking, she had assumed a demure, saintly air; and resting on the cushions, she stretched herself out at full length, with her head on my shoulder and her dress pulled up a little, so as to show her red silk stockings, which the fire-light made look still brighter.  In a minute or two she continued: 

“‘I suppose I have frightened you?’ I protested against such a notion, and she leant against my breast altogether, and without looking at me she said:  ‘If I were to tell you that I love you, what would you do?’

“And before I could think of an answer, she had thrown her arms round my neck, had quickly drawn my head down and put her lips to mine.

“Oh!  My dear friend, I can tell you that I did not feel at all happy!  What! deceive Julien? become the lover of this little silly, wrong-headed, cunning woman, who was no doubt terribly sensual, and for whom her husband was already not sufficient!  To betray him continually, to deceive him, to play at being in love merely because I was attracted by forbidden fruit, danger incurred and friendship betrayed!  No, that did not suit me, but what was I to do?  To imitate Joseph, would be acting a very stupid, and, moreover, difficult part, for this woman was maddening in her perfidy, inflamed by audacity, palpitating and excited.  Let the man who has never felt on his lips, the warm kiss of a woman who is ready to give herself to him, throw the first stone at me ...

“...  Well, a minute more ... you understand what I mean?  A minute more and ...  I should have been ... no, she would have been ...  I beg your pardon, he would have been!... when a loud noise made us both jump up.  The log had fallen into the room, knocking over the fire-irons and the fender, and onto the carpet which it had scorched, and had rolled under an arm-chair, which it would certainly set alight.

“I jumped up like a madman, and as I was replacing that log which had saved me, on the fire, the door opened hastily, and Julien came in.

“‘I have done,’ he said, in evident pleasure.  ’The business was over two hours sooner than I expected!’

“Yes, my dear friend, without that log, I should have been caught in the very act, and you know what the consequences would have been!

“You may be sure that I took good care never to be overtaken in a similar situation again; never, never.  Soon afterwards I saw that Julien was giving me the ‘cold shoulder,’ as they say.  His wife was evidently undermining our friendship; by degrees he got rid of me, and we have altogether ceased to meet.

“I have not got married which ought not to surprise you, I think.”

MARGOT’S TAPERS

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