“What will your lover say?”

“Alas!  I haven’t got one to say anything.”

“I cannot credit that.”

“I have had two lovers; the first one was a rascal, who took advantage of my innocence to seduce me, and then left me when I ceased to present any novelty for him; my second was an honest man, but a poor lieutenant with no prospects of getting on.  He has not abandoned me, but his regiment was ordered to Stetin, and since then—­”

“And since then?”

“We were too poor to write to one another, so we had to suffer in silence.”

This pathetic history seemed to bear the marks of truth; and I thought it very possible that Maton had only come with me to make her fortune or to do rather better than she had been doing, which would not be difficult.  She was twenty-five years old, and as she had never been out of Breslau before, she would doubtless be delighted to see what the world was like at Dresden.  I could not help feeling that I had been a fool to burden myself with the girl, who would most likely cost me a lot of money; but still I found my conduct excusable, as the chances were a hundred to one against her accepting the proposal I had been foolish enough to make.  In short, I resolved to enjoy the pleasure of having a pretty girl all to myself, and I determined not to do anything during the journey, being anxious to see whether her moral qualities would plead as strongly with me as her physical beauty undoubtedly did.  At nightfall I stopped, wishing to spend the night at the posting-station.  Maton, who had been very hungry all day, but had not dared to tell me so, ate with an amazing and pleasing appetite; but not being accustomed to wine, she would have fallen asleep at table, if I had not begged her to retire.  She begged my pardon, assuring me she would not let such a thing occur again.  I smiled by way of reply, and stayed at the table, not looking to see whether she undressed or went to bed in her clothes.  I went to bed myself soon after, and at five o’clock was up again to order the coffee, and to see that the horses were put in.  Maton was lying on her bed with all her clothes on, fast asleep, and perspiring with the heat.  I woke her, telling her that another time she must sleep more comfortably, as such heats were injurious to health.

She got up and left the room, no doubt to wash, for she returned looking fresh and gay, and bade me good day, and asked me if I would like to give her a kiss.

“I shall be delighted,” I replied; and, after kissing her, I made her hurry over the breakfast, as I wished to reach Dresden that evening.  However, I could not manage it, my carriage broke down, and took five hours to mend, so I had to sleep at another posting station.  Maton undressed this time, but I had the firmness not to look at her.