“We are equally pleased with each other,” answered my charming housekeeper.
To my great delight the first pair to appear were M.—— and Madame. She was extremely polite to Madame Dubois, and did not shew the slightest astonishment when I introduced her as my housekeeper. She told me that I must take her to see her lame friend, and to my great disgust I had to go. We were received with a show of great friendship, and she went out with us into the garden, taking M.——‘s arm, while his wife leant amorously on mine.
When we had made a few turns of the garden, Madame begged me to take her to her nurse. As her husband was close by, I said,—
“Who is your nurse?”
“Your door-keeper’s wife,” said her husband, “we will wait for you in this lady’s apartment.”
“Tell me, sweetheart,” said she on the way, “does not your pretty housekeeper sleep with you?”
“I swear she does not; I can only love you.”
“I would like to believe you, but I find it hard to do so; however, if you are speaking the truth it is wrong of you to keep her in the house, as nobody will believe in your innocence.”
“It is enough for me that you believe in it. I admire her, and at any other time I expect we could not sleep under the same roof without sleeping in the same bed; but now that you rule my heart I am not capable of a passion for her.”
“I am delighted to hear it; but I think she is very pretty.”