“Well, friends, then; and that is not much better after being lovers.”
“But friendship, dearest, is never indifferent. Love, it is true, may be in its composition. We know it, as it has been thus from the beginning of the world.”
“Then the ambassador was right. Repentance might come and torment us when love had been replaced by calmer friendship.”
“If you think so, let us marry each other to-morrow, and punish thereby the vices of our human nature.”
“Yes, we will marry, but there is no hurry; fearing lest hymen should quicken the departure of love, let us enjoy our happiness while we can.”
“You speak admirably, my angel, and deserve the greatest good fortune.”
“I wish for no greater than what you procure me.”
We went to bed, continuing our discussions, and when we were in each other’s arms we made an arrangement which suited us very well.
“Lausanne,” said she, “is a little town where you would meet with the warmest hospitality, and during your fortnight’s stay you will have nothing to do but to make visits and to go to suppers. I am known to all the nobility, and the Duke of Rosebury, who wearied me with his love-making, is still there. My appearance with you will make everybody talk, and it will be as annoying for you as for me. My mother lives there, too. She would say nothing, but in her heart she would be ill-pleased to see me as the housekeeper of a man like you, for common sense would inform everyone that I was your mistress.”
I thought she was right, and that it would be well to respect the rules of society. We decided that she should go to Lausanne by herself and stay with her mother, that in two or three days I should follow her, and should live by myself, as long as I liked, having full liberty to see her at her mother’s.