the nerves and distract the head;
that it must--how shall I express it?--be dangerous, even terrible,
almost criminal and sacrilegious; that it must be a kind of treason;
I mean to say that it is bound to break laws, fraternal bonds, sacred
obligations; when love is tranquil, easy, lawful and without dangers, is
it really love?'

"I did not know what answer to give her, and I made this philosophical
reflection to myself: 'Oh! female brain, here; indeed, you show
yourself!'

"While speaking, she had assumed a demure saintly air; and, resting on
the cushions, she stretched herself out at full length, with her head
on my shoulder, and her dress pulled up a little so as to show her red
stockings, which the firelight made look still brighter. In a minute or
two she continued:

"'I suppose I have frightened you?' I protested against such a notion,
and she leaned against my breast altogether, and without looking at me,
she said: 'If I were to tell you that I love you, what would you do?'

"And before I could think of an answer, she had thrown her arms around
my neck, had quickly drawn my head down, and put her lips to mine.

"Oh! My dear friend, I can tell you that I did not feel at all
happy! What! deceive Julien? become the lover of this little, silly,
wrong-headed, deceitful woman, who was, no doubt, terribly sensual, and
whom her husband no longer satisfied.

"To betray him continually, to deceive him, to play at being in love
merely because I was attracted by forbidden fruit, by the danger
incurred and the friendship betrayed! No, that did not suit me, but
what was I to do? To imitate Joseph would be acting a very stupid and,
moreover, difficult part, for this woman was enchanting in her perfidy,
inflamed by audacity, palpitating and excited. Let the man who has never
felt on his lips the warm kiss of a woman who is ready to give herself
to him throw the first stone at me.

"Well, a minute more--you understand what I mean? A minute more, and--I
should have been--no, she would have been!--I beg your pardon, he would
have been--when a loud noise made us both jump up. The log had fallen
into the room, knocking over the fire irons and the fender, and on to
the carpet, which it had scorched, and had rolled under an armchair,
which it would certainly set alight.

"I jumped up like a madman, and, as I was replacing on the fire that log
which had saved me, the door opened hastily, and Julien came in.

"'I am free,' he