When I had withdrawn my hand, the little one gave a kiss to M—M—, whose smiling air reassured her, and begged leave to absent herself for a moment. It seems I had reduced her to a state in which a brief space of solitude was necessary, and I myself was in a highly excited condition.
When she had gone, I said to M—M—:—
“Dost realise that what thou hast shown me hath made me unhappy?”
“And why?”
“Because thy boarder is charming and I am dying to possess her.”
“I grieve for that, since thou canst not go further; moreover, I know thee, my friend, and e’en though thou couldst satisfy thy passion without danger to her, I would not yield her to thee; thou wouldst spoil her.”
“How?”
“Dost think that after enjoying thee she would care to enjoy me? I should lose too heavily by comparison.”
“Give me thy hand.”
“Nay.”