"Ten Savoy sols a day. But now I live like a princess, as you shall see at supper, for though this worthy woman knows the money you gave her is for herself she lavishes it on me." "She knows, dear sister, that such is my intention, and here is some more to go on with." So saying I took another ten louis from my purse, and bade the country-woman spare nothing for the invalid's comfort. I enjoyed the worthy woman's happiness; she kissed my hands, and told me that I had made her fortune, and that she could buy some cows now. As soon as I was alone with the charming nun, whose face recalled to my memory the happy hours I had passed with M---- M----, my imagination began to kindle, and drawing close to her I began to talk of her seducer, telling her I was surprised that he had not helped her in the cruel position in which he had placed her. She replied that she was debarred from accepting any money by her vow of poverty and obedience, and that she had given up to the abbess what remained of the alms the bishop had procured her. "As to my state when I was so fortunate as to meet you, I think he cannot have received my letter." "Possibly, but is he a rich or handsome man?" "He is rich but certainly not handsome. On the contrary, he is extremely ugly, deformed, and over fifty." "How did you become amorous of a fellow like that?" "I never loved him, but he contrived to gain my pity. I thought he would kill himself, and I promised to be in the garden on the night he appointed, but I only went there with the intention of bidding him begone, and he did so, but after he had carried his evil designs into effect." "Did he use violence towards you, then?" "No, for that would have been no use. He wept, threw himself on his knees, and begged so hard, that I let him do what he liked on the condition that he would not kill himself, and that he would come no more to the garden." "Had you no fear of consequences?" "I did not understand anything about it; I always thought that one could not conceive under three times at least." "Unhappy ignorance! how many woes are caused by it! Then he did not ask you to give him any more assignations?" "He often asked me, but I would not grant his request because our confessor made me promise to withstand him thenceforth, if I wished to be absolved." "Did you tell him the name of the seducer?" "Certainly not; the good confessor would not have allowed me to do so; it would have been a great sin." "Did you tell your confessor the state you were in?" "No, but he must have guessed it. He is a good old man, who doubtless prayed to God for me, and my meeting you was, perhaps, the answer to his prayers."