"Well, surely you will agree with me that in this matter, at least, there should be discrimination?" I urged. He shook his head with that exasperating stubbornness one occasionally finds in sweet-tempered people. "No, I cannot agree with you, even in this," he replied. "What possible reason is there why men, more than women, should be privileged to indulge in vice?" "Why, in the very nature of things!" I cried. "There is a hygienic principle involved; you know,--it is a statistical fact,--that single men are neither so vigorous nor so long-lived as married men, and a good many men do not marry." "Well, a good many more women do not marry; what of those?" "Severnius! I cannot believe you are in earnest. Women!--that is quite another matter. Women are differently constituted from men; their nature--" "O, come!" he interrupted; "I thought we had settled that question--that their nature is of a piece with our own. It happens in your world, my friend, that your women were kept to a strict line of conduct, according to your account, by a severe discipline,--including even the death penalty,--until their virtue, from being long and persistently enforced, grew into a habit and finally became a question of honor." "Yes, stronger than death, thank God!" I affirmed. "Well, then, it seems to me that the only excuse men have to offer for their lack of chastity--I refer to the men on your planet--is that they have not been hedged about by the wholesome restraints that have developed self-government in women. I cannot admit your 'hygienic' argument in this matter; life is a principle that needs encouragement, and a man of family has more incentives to live, and usually his health is better cared for, than a single man, that is all." We rode in silence for some time. I finally asked, nodding toward the beautiful enclosure still in view: "How do they manage about this business; do they practice any secrecy?" "Of course!" he replied. "I hope you do not think we live in open and shameless lawlessness? Usually it is only the very wealthy who indulge in such 'luxuries,' and they try to seal the lips of servants and go-betweens with gold. But it does not always work; it is in the nature of those things to leak out." "And if one of these creatures is found out, what then?" I asked. He answered with some severity: "'Creatures' is a harsh name to apply to women, some of whom move in our highest circles!" "I beg your pardon! call them what you like, but tell me, what happens when there is an _exposé_? Are they denounced, ostracized, sat upon?" I inquired.