It will be guessed that I accepted the invitation.  I waited on her before eight o’clock.  She was very melancholy, and told me that she was in despair, that la Popeliniere pressed on the marriage, and that her mother persecuted her.

“She tells me that I must sign the contract, and that the dressmaker will soon be coming to take my measure for my wedding dress.  To that I cannot consent, for a dressmaker would certainly see my situation.  I will die rather than confide in my mother, or marry before I am delivered.”

“There is always time enough to talk about dying,” said I, “when all other means have failed.  I think you could easily get rid of la Popeliniere, who is a man of honour.  Tell him how you are situated, and he will act without compromising you, as his own interest is sufficiently involved to make him keep the secret.”

“But should I be much better off then?  And how about my mother?”

“Your mother?  Oh!  I will make her listen to reason.”

“You know not what she is like.  The honour of the family would oblige her to get me out of the way, but before that she would make me suffer torments to which death is preferable by far.  But why have you said no more about the aroph?  Is it not all a jest?  It would be a very cruel one.”

“On the contrary, I believe it to be infallible, though I have never been a witness of its effects; but what good is it for me to speak to you?  You can guess that a delicacy of feeling has made me keep silence.  Confide in your lover, who is at Venice; write him a letter, and I will take care that it is given into his hands, in five or six days, by a sure messenger.  If he is not well off I will give you whatever money may be needed for him to come without delay, and save your honour and life by giving you the aroph.”

“This idea is a good one and the offer generous on your part, but it is not feasible, as you would see if you knew more about my circumstances.  Do not think any more of my lover; but supposing I made up my mind to receive the aroph from another, tell me how it could be done.  Even if my lover were in Paris, how could he spend an entire week with me, as he would have to?  And how could he give me the dose five or six times a day for a week?  You see yourself that this remedy is out of the question.”

“So you would give yourself to another, if you thought that would save your honour?”

“Certainly, if I were sure that the thing would be kept secret.  But where shall I find such a person?  Do you think he would be easy to find, or that I can go and look for him?”