man might have been stabbed by the woman. Louise saw no indecency
up to the knees, but above was a disgrace. "Put your boots up," I said,
up they went. "I may put garter to there?" said I feeling outside.
"Yes." I shoved my hand up her petticoats on to her thighs, they closed,
and down went the legs: a squeal, a struggle, but on her thighs I kept
it until I got to the house.

We let ourselves in, the bonnet had not come, Louise opened the window
to look out for it, although it was dark. A ring came, it was the
bonnet; down she rushed for it. "Bring lights, bring lights," said she
taking one in her hand herself, the bonnet in the other; and rushing
into Camille's room where there were large glasses; she put on the
bonnet, clapped her hands for joy, and kissed me saying, I was so good.
She put on her gloves, and collar, turning round to me each time, and
asking how she looked. "Let me sleep with you, and I will buy you a
dress to-morrow morning," said I. "Impossible, impossible, was I not
going now," said she thoughtfully on a sudden. "No," I meant to sleep
there; and as I had fetched a valise, I pulled out my things, took off
my boots, put on a dressing-gown. "There," said I, "I shall sleep here
till Camille comes home." "There will be a row then, and what will I
do? Madame Boileau (the old woman upstairs) must know, and will tell
Madame," and she looked hard at me.

Then she was attracted by my dressing-gown which was showy, but soon
began looking at herself again, and took off all her finery with a sigh.
"I am so hot and thirsty," said she. It was not wonderful, for she had
fed twice heavily, and been champagning off and on for hours, her hands
were burning, heat was throughout her frame. "Let's have some more
champagne," said I, and opened a bottle; I pulled my trows-ers off,--it
was so hot,--being then in dressing-gown, drawers, and slippers, I made
up my mind to force her, if I could do it no other way. Then my eye
caught sight of a white muslin wrapper which Camille wore, it was tied
down the front with blue bows.

"Put on Madame's wrapper, if you are hot, you will look handsomer than
she does." She went into Camille's room, bolted herself in, and came
out looking splendid, and had only on beneath the wrapper, her coarse
chemise, which I could see (as indeed I knew before) just reached below
her knees. My heart palpitated, I was in my dressing-gown, she with but
the thinnest garments on.

The champagne was befo