"In the opera it is the man who is 'mobile,' in spite of what the song says!"
"Oh, no, the song is quite right—when a man is openly unfaithful, it is only in answer to a secret defection on the part of the woman. Any intelligent woman who wishes to keep a man, can do it—you can always be sure that it is really the woman's fault if a man strays in his allegiance."
"That is an extremely convenient theory," said Ragna, laughing, "but it is a poor rule that won't work both ways. Would you make the man responsible for infidelity on the part of the woman?"
"Oh, that is a very different matter!"
"Why should it be?"
"You will not pretend, I suppose, that a woman is exactly the same as a man? The difference between them alters the whole aspect of the case."
"Oh!" said Ragna, "you are incorrigible, you twist and turn so,—you will never meet me fairly!"
"The infidelity of man," continued Mirko, "is different in its very essence from that of woman,—it is quite possible for a man to be constant when he is apparently most unfaithful—the superficial change only enhances the charm of the real affection; he never tires of coming back to it,—if he were never to leave it, it would pall on him."
"Why will you be so paradoxical?"
"It is not I who am paradoxical,—it is life."