But I desired a still greater privilege; I longed to steal from a lovely pair of lips a far sweeter kiss. Nicette tried, but too late, to prevent me. I took one, I took a thousand. Ah! how sweet were those kisses that I imprinted on Nicette's lips! Saint-Preux found Julie's bitter; but I have never detected a trace of bitterness in a pretty woman's kisses; to be sure, I am no Saint-Preux, thank heaven! A consuming flame coursed through my veins. Nicette shared my emotion; I could tell by the expression of her eyes, by the quivering of her whole frame. I sought to take advantage of her confusion to venture still further; but she repulsed me, she tore herself from my arms, rushed to the door, and was already on the landing, when I overtook her and caught her by her skirt. "Where in heaven's name are you going, Nicette?" "I am going away, monsieur." "What's that?" "Yes, monsieur, I am going away; I see now that I mustn't pass the night here in your rooms; I wouldn't have believed that you'd take advantage of my trouble to---- But since I made a mistake, I'm going away." "Stop, for heaven's sake! Where would you go?" "Oh! I don't know about that; but it don't make any difference! I see that I'd be safer in the street than alone here with you." I felt that I deserved that reproach. The girl was virtuous; she had placed herself under my protection without distrust; she had asked me for hospitality, and I was about to take advantage of her helpless plight, to seduce her! That was contemptible behavior. But I may say, in my own justification, that I did not know Nicette, and that, for all the artless simplicity of her language, a young girl who suggests to a man that she pass the night under his roof certainly lays herself open to suspicion, especially in Paris, where innocent young maids are so rare. She still held the door ajar, and I did not relax my grasp of her skirt. I looked in her face, and saw great tears rolling down her cheeks. Poor child! it was I who caused them to fall! She seemed prettier to me than ever; I was tempted to throw myself at her feet and beg her to forgive me. But what! I, on my knees before a street peddler! Do not be alarmed: I did not offend the proprieties to that extent. "I beg you to remain, Nicette," I said, at last. "No, monsieur; I made a mistake about you; I must go." "Listen to me; in the first place, you can't go away from the house alone; at this time of night the concierge opens the door only to those who give their names." "Oh! but I remember your name; it's Dorsan." "It isn't enough to give my name; she would know that it wasn't my voice." "All right; then I'll stay in the courtyard till morning." "Excellent; everybody will see you; and think of the remarks and tittle-tattle of all the cooks of the quarter! It's bad enough that that infernal Raymond should have seen you. Come back to my rooms, Nicette; I promise, yes, I swear, to behave myself and not to torment you."