“This undoubtedly lasted for a long time.  I was suddenly awakened by a deep voice which was saying:  ’What, you lazy girl, still in bed?  It’s ten o’clock!’

“A woman’s voice answered:  ‘Already!  I was so tired yesterday.’

“In bewilderment I wondered what this dialogue meant.  Where was I?  What had I done?  My mind was wandering, still surrounded by a heavy fog.  The first voice continued:  ‘I’m going to raise your curtains.’

“I heard steps approaching me.  Completely at a loss what to do, I sat up.  Then a hand was placed on my head.  I started.  The voice asked:  ’Who is there?’ I took good care not to answer.  A furious grasp seized me.  I in turn seized him, and a terrific struggle ensued.  We were rolling around, knocking over the furniture and crashing against the walls.  A woman’s voice was shrieking:  ‘Help! help!’

“Servants, neighbors, frightened women crowded around us.  The blinds were open and the shades drawn.  I was struggling with Colonel Dumoulin.

“I had slept beside his daughter’s bed!

“When we were separated, I escaped to my room, dumbfounded.  I locked myself in and sat down with my feet on a chair, for my shoes had been left in the young girl’s room.

“I heard a great noise through the whole house, doors being opened and closed, whisperings and rapid steps.

“After half an hour some one knocked on my door.  I cried:  ‘Who is there?’ It was my uncle, the bridegroom’s father.  I opened the door: 

“He was pale and furious, and he treated me harshly:  ’You have behaved like a scoundrel in my house, do you hear?’ Then he added more gently ’But, you young fool, why the devil did you let yourself get caught at ten o’clock in the morning?  You go to sleep like a log in that room, instead of leaving immediately—­immediately after.’

“I exclaimed:  ’But, uncle, I assure you that nothing occurred.  I was drunk and got into the wrong room.’

“He shrugged his shoulders!  ‘Don’t talk nonsense.’  I raised my hand, exclaiming:  ‘I swear to you on my honor.’  My uncle continued:  ’Yes, that’s all right.  It’s your duty to say that.’

“I in turn grew angry and told him the whole unfortunate occurrence.  He looked at me with a bewildered expression, not knowing what to believe.  Then he went out to confer with the colonel.

“I heard that a kind of jury of the mothers had been formed, to which were submitted the different phases of the situation.

“He came back an hour later, sat down with the dignity of a judge and began:  ’No matter what may be the situation, I can see only one way out of it for you; it is to marry Mademoiselle Dumoulin.’

“I bounded out of the chair, crying:  ‘Never! never!’

“Gravely he asked:  ‘Well, what do you expect to do?’

“I answered simply:  ‘Why—­leave as soon as my shoes are returned to me.’

“My uncle continued:  ’Please do not jest.  The colonel has decided to blow your brains out as soon as he sees you.  And you may be sure that he does not threaten idly.  I spoke of a duel and he answered:  “No, I tell you that I will blow his brains out."’