“Nevertheless, I hesitated. I consider that, as a rule, the majority of society intrigues, however short they may be, are not worth the trouble which they give us and the difficulties which may arise. I therefore mentally compared the advantages and disadvantages which I might expect, and I thought I noticed that the husband suspected me. “One evening, at a ball, as I was saying tender things to the young woman in a little parlor leading from the big hall where the dancing was going on, I noticed in a mirror the reflection of some one who was watching me. It was he. Our looks met and then I saw him turn his head and walk away. “I murmured: 'Your husband is spying on us.' “She seemed dumbfounded and asked: 'My husband?' “'Yes, he has been watching us for some time: “'Nonsense! Are you sure?' “'Very sure.' “'How strange! He is usually extraordinarily pleasant to all my friends.' “'Perhaps he guessed that I love you!' “'Nonsense! You are not the first one to pay attention to me. Every woman who is a little in view drags behind her a herd of admirers.' “'Yes. But I love you deeply.' “'Admitting that that is true, does a husband ever guess those things?' “'Then he is not jealous?' “'No-no!' “She thought for an instant and then continued: 'No. I do not think that I ever noticed any jealousy on his part.' “'Has he never-watched you?' “'No. As I said, he is always agreeable to my friends.' “From that day my courting became much more assiduous. The woman did not please me any more than before, but the probable jealousy of her husband tempted me greatly. “As for her, I judged her coolly and clearly. She had a certain worldly charm, due to a quick, gay, amiable and superficial mind, but no real, deep attraction. She was, as I have already said, an excitable little being, all on the surface, with rather a showy elegance. How can I explain myself? She was an ornament, not a home. “One day, after taking dinner with her, her husband said to me, just as I was leaving: 'My dear friend' (he now called me 'friend'), 'we soon leave for the country. It is a great pleasure to my wife and myself to entertain people whom we like. We would be very pleased to have you spend a month with us. It would be very nice of you to do so.' “I was dumbfounded, but I accepted.