During the first four or five months nothing but childish trifles took place between us; but one night, coming home very late and finding her fast asleep on my bed, I did not see the necessity of waking her up, and undressing myself I lay down beside her.... She left me at daybreak. Mimi had not been gone three hours when a milliner came with a charming young girl, to invite herself and her friend to breakfast; I thought the young girl well worth a breakfast, but I was tired and wanted rest, and I begged them both to withdraw. Soon after they had left me, Madame Quinson came with her daughter to make my bed. I put my dressing-gown on, and began to write. “Ah! the nasty hussies!” exclaims the mother. “What is the matter, madam?” “The riddle is clear enough, sir; these sheets are spoiled.” “I am very sorry, my dear madam, but change them, and the evil will be remedied at once.” She went out of the room, threatening and grumbling, “Let them come again, and see if I don’t take care of them!” Mimi remained alone with me, and I addressed her some reproaches for her imprudence. But she laughed, and answered that Love had sent those women on purpose to protect Innocence! After that, Mimi was no longer under any restraint, she would come and share my bed whenever she had a fancy to do so, unless I sent her back to her own room, and in the morning she always left me in good time. But at the end of four months my beauty informed me that our secret would soon be discovered. “I am very sorry,” I said to her, “but I cannot help it.” “We ought to think of something.” “Well, do so.” “What can I think of? Well, come what will; the best thing I can do is not to think of it.” Towards the sixth month she had become so large, that her mother, no longer doubting the truth, got into a violent passion, and by dint of blows compelled her to name the father. Mimi said I was the guilty swain, and perhaps it was not an untruth. With that great discovery Madame Quinson burst into my room in high dudgeon. She threw herself on a chair, and when she had recovered her breath she loaded me with insulting words, and ended by telling me that I must marry her daughter. At this intimation, understanding her object and wishing to cut the matter short, I told her that I was already married in Italy. “Then why did you come here and get my daughter with child?” “I can assure you that I did not mean to do so. Besides, how do you know that I am the father of the child?” “Mimi says so, and she is certain of it.” “I congratulate her; but I warn you, madam, that I am ready to swear that I have not any certainty about it.” “What then?” “Then nothing. If she is pregnant, she will be confined.”