“I must seem very mad, very reckless to you, my friend, but you have no idea of all that I have just gone through! Within a few moments, my destiny, my future has changed. Now I can be happy. I loved you--you know it, for I have not been able to conceal my feeling for you. Without telling each other so, we understood each other perfectly.--But that love was a crime; at least I thought so. I blamed myself for it; I tried to avoid you, to forget you.--Mon Dieu! how unhappy I was!--But now I know the whole truth; I know that I am at liberty to love you.” “What? what do you mean?” “That I know all.--Oh! forgive me for questioning that woman, but I could not resist my curiosity. Your confusion at the sight of her seemed so strange!” “That woman! Have you talked with Lucile?” “Yes, and I know now that, far from being guilty toward your wife, you were shamefully deceived by her.” “Oh! hush! hush!” “Never again, I give you my word, will I remind you of a thing that has caused you such pain. Now I can understand why you would not go back to her--why you fled from her. I blamed you; I thought that I was an obstacle to your reconciliation, and that is why I tried to go away from you. But, since things are as they are, why should I doom myself to everlasting misery? why should I not abandon myself to the sentiment which you have inspired in me?” “What are you saying, Caroline? If my wife were guilty, am I the more free for that?” “Free? no, I am well aware that I cannot be your wife. But what do I care for that title? it is your love alone that I want; as you know, I worry very little about the world and the proprieties. I am my own mistress; why should I not dare to love you? Because you are bound to somebody who has made your life wretched, must you drag out your whole existence in bitterness and solitude?--No! on the contrary, I propose, by my love, to make you forget your sorrows. It will be so sweet to me to be your only friend--to have all your thoughts, every moment of your life!--But you do not answer? Great God! have I made a mistake? Can it be that you do not love me? Oh! then there is nothing left in life for me--I can only die!--Henri! Henri!--He does not answer!” She had placed her head on my breast. I cannot describe what took place within me. How could I spurn, how fly from a woman whom I loved? I had not the strength. I raised that lovely head. As I sought to comfort her, my face touched hers; our cheeks were burning, our lips met. We forgot the whole world, we existed only for each other. I do not know how long we stayed there on that turf, the scene of our transports. I was happy, and yet something oppressed and saddened me. I was afraid to reflect. Caroline had thrown her arms about my neck; she was engrossed by her love. I looked about and listened; there was no sound to be heard. “It is very late. I think that I must go home,” said Caroline; “you will go with me, won’t you, dear?” “Of course.” “Where are we?”