The girl came forward on tiptoe, like a person moved by fear and curiosity at the same time. She stopped within two steps of me and looked at me with close attention. I looked at her in my turn, and found her most attractive. I had never yet thought about women; indeed, I had never before been alone with a young girl. The presence of that one, her close scrutiny of me, and the pleasant expression of her face,--all those things excited me greatly, and I was conscious of a feeling which I had never known before. We were both silent for some time; Clairette broke the silence: “What, monsieur!” she said, staring with all her eyes, “what! are you thirty years old?” “Yes, mademoiselle,” I replied at once, recalling what my companion had told me, and thinking that that falsehood might lead to some amusing adventures. Moreover, as you must know, a young man of fifteen is always well pleased to appear older and more mature than he is; whereas at thirty, he regrets that he is not fifteen still. “Bless my soul! why, I can’t get over it! Thirty years old! You don’t look half of it!” And Clairette examined me more closely; I made no objection and tried to play the exquisite. “You must have some secret, monsieur, to keep you from growing old?” “Yes, mademoiselle; and I have many others too.” “Oh! if you could only tell me that one, monsieur! I’d be so pleased, so happy--to look young forever! Ah! how delightful that would be! I promise you that I won’t tell your secret. You see, I wouldn’t want the other girls in town to stay young too! ’twould take away all the pleasure.--Monsieur, will you be kind enough to--I say--if you will, you can ask me for all you choose!” The young servant seemed, in very truth, predisposed in my favor; I already felt innumerable desires surging in my heart; but I dared not make them known as yet; I was very green, but I felt a longing to cease to be, and I wished to receive my first instructions from Clairette. However, when you pretend to be thirty years old, you don’t want to appear to be an ignoramus; and, in order to avoid talking and acting awkwardly, I held my peace and did nothing but look at Clairette. The girl, amazed by my silence, was afraid that she had said too much; however, the desire to remain young tormented her so that she soon renewed her questions. “They say you’re a somnambulist, monsieur?” “Yes, I am.” “And that you put everybody to sleep?” “I put those people to sleep who believe in my skill.” “Oh! I believe in it absolutely, monsieur! and if you would put me to sleep--Perhaps that is what gives the young look?” “Why, yes, that’s the beginning of it.” “Oh! begin me, monsieur, please! it will be so much done! Please, while we’re alone and you’ve got time----” “What do you want?” “To be put to sleep, monsieur. See, I’m all ready.”