personal instance. Some years
previously I had owned a spaniel bitch who was so stupid that I could
do nothing with her, but when she had had puppies she became, if not
exactly intelligent, yet almost like many other dogs who had not been
thoroughly broken.

"As soon as I foresaw the possibility of this, the wish to get Bertha
married grew in me, not so much out of friendship for her and her
poor parents as from scientific curiosity. What would happen? It was a
singular problem. I said in reply to her father:

"'Perhaps you are right. You might make the attempt, but you will never
find a man to consent to marry her.'

"'I have found somebody,' he said, in a low voice.

"I was dumfounded, and said: 'Somebody really suitable? Some one of your
own rank and position in society?'

"'Decidedly,' he replied.

"'Oh! And may I ask his name?'

"'I came on purpose to tell you, and to consult you. It is Monsieur
Gaston du Boys de Lucelles.'

"I felt inclined to exclaim: 'The wretch!' but I held my tongue, and
after a few moments' silence I said:

"'Oh! Very good. I see nothing against it.'

"The poor man shook me heartily by the hand.

"'She is to be married next month,' he said.

"Monsieur Gaston du Boys de Lucelles was a scapegrace of good family,
who, after having spent all that he had inherited from his father, and
having incurred debts in all kinds of doubtful ways, had been trying to
discover some other means of obtaining money, and he had discovered this
method. He was a good-looking young fellow, and in capital health, but
fast; one of that odious race of provincial fast men, and he appeared to
me to be as suitable as anyone, and could be got rid of later by making
him an allowance. He came to the house to pay his addresses and to strut
about before the idiot girl, who, however, seemed to please him. He
brought her flowers, kissed her hands, sat at her feet, and looked
at her with affectionate eyes; but she took no notice of any of his
attentions, and did not make any distinction between him and the other
persons who were about her.

"However, the marriage took place, and you may guess how my curiosity
was aroused. I went to see Bertha the next day to try and discover from
her looks whether any feelings had been awakened in her, but I found her
just the same as she was every day, wholly taken up with the clock and
dinner, while he, on the contrary, appeared really in love, and tried
to rouse his wife's spir