She had on a dimity corset, trimmed with red ribbon, and a cambric chemise.  I was surprised, but politeness did not allow me to ask where they came from, so I contented myself with staring at them.  She guessed my thoughts, and said, smilingly, that it was a present from the countrywoman.

“Seeing her fortune made, the worthy woman tries every possible way to convince her benefactor that she is grateful to him.  Look at the bed; she was certainly thinking of you, and look at these fine materials.  I confess I enjoy their softness extremely.  I shall sleep better to-night if I am not plagued by those seductive dreams which tormented me last night.”

“Do you think that the bed and the fine linen will deliver you from the dreams you fear?”

“No doubt they will have a contrary effect, for softness irritates the passions.  I shall leave everything with the good woman.  I do not know what they would say if I took them with me to the convent.”

“You are not so comfortable there?”

“Oh, no!  A straw bed, a couple of blankets, and sometimes, as a great favour, a thin mattress and two coarse sheets.  But you seem sad; you were so happy yesterday.”

“How can I be happy when I can no longer toy with you without making you unhappy.”

“You should have said without giving me the greatest delight.”

“Then will you consent to receive pleasure in return for that which you give me?”

“But yours is innocent and mine is not.”

“What would you do, then, if mine and yours were the same?”

“You might have made me wretched yesterday, for I could not have refused you anything.”

“Why wretched?  You would have had none of those dreams, but would have enjoyed a quiet night.  I am very sorry the peasant woman has given you that corset, as otherwise I might at least have seen my little pets without fear of bad dreams.”

“But you must not be angry with the good woman, for she knows that a corset is easy to unlace.  And I cannot bear to see you sad.”

With these words she turned her ardent gaze upon me, and I covered her with kisses which she returned with interest.  The country-woman came up to lay the pretty new table, just as I was taking off her corset without her offering the least resistance.

This good omen put me in high spirits, but as I looked at her I saw a shadow passing across her face.  I took care not to ask her the reason, for I guessed what was the matter, and I did not wish to discuss those vows which religion and honour should have made inviolable.  To distract her mind from these thoughts, I made her eat by the example I set, and she drank the excellent claret with as much pleasure as I, not thinking that as she was not used to it it would put her in a frame of mind not favourable to continence.  But she did not notice this, for her gaiety made her look prettier than before, and aroused her passions.