Silvia’s daughter loved me, and she knew I loved her, although I had never said so, but women’s wit is keen.  At the same time she endeavoured not to let me know her feelings, as she was afraid of encouraging me to ask favours of her, and she did not feel sure of her strength to refuse them; and she knew my inconstant nature.  Her relations intended her for Clement, who had been teaching her the clavichord for the last three years.  She knew of the arrangement and had no objection, for though she did not love him she liked him very well.  Most girls are wedded without love, and they are not sorry for it afterwards.  They know that by marriage they become of some consequence in the world, and they marry to have a house of their own and a good position in society.  They seem to know that a husband and a lover need not be synonymous terms.  At Paris men are actuated by the same views, and most marriages are matters of convenience.  The French are jealous of their mistresses, but never of their wives.

There could be no doubt that M. Clement was very much in love, and Mdlle.  Baletti was delighted that I noticed it, as she thought this would bring me to a declaration, and she was quite right.  The departure of Mdlle. de la Meure had a good deal to do with my determination to declare myself; and I was very sorry to have done so afterwards, for after I had told her I loved her Clement was dismissed, and my position was worse than before.  The man who declares his love for a woman in words wants to be sent to school again.

Three days after the departure of Tiretta, I took him what small belongings he had, and Madame seemed very glad to see me.  The Abbe des Forges arrived just as we were sitting down to dinner, and though he had been very friendly to me at Paris he did not so much as look at me all through the meal, and treated Tiretta in the same way.  I, for my part, took no notice of him, but Tiretta, not so patient as I, at last lost his temper and got up, begging Madame to tell him when she was going to have that fellow to dine with her.  We rose from table without saying a word, and the silent abbe went with madam into another room.

Tiretta took me to see his room, which was handsomely furnished, and, as was right, adjoined his sweetheart’s.  Whilst he was putting his things in order, Mdlle. de la Meure made me come and see my apartment.  It was a very nice room on the ground floor, and facing hers.  I took care to point out to her how easily I could pay her a visit after everyone was in bed, but she said we should not be comfortable in her room, and that she would consequently save me the trouble of getting out of bed.  It will be guessed that I had no objections to make to this arrangement.

She then told me of her aunt’s folly about Tiretta.

“She believes,” said she, “that we do not know he sleeps with her.”

“Believes, or pretends to believe.”

“Possibly.  She rang for me at eleven o’clock this morning and told me to go and ask him what kind of night he had passed.  I did so, but seeing his bed had not been slept in I asked him if he had not been to sleep.