Attainment

           ItwasdarkintheapartmentsintheRuedeConstantinople,whenGeorgesduRoyandClotildedeMarelle,havingmetatthedoor,enteredthem.Withoutgivinghimtimetoraisetheshades,thelattersaid:

           "SoyouaregoingtomarrySuzanneWalter?"

           Herepliedintheaffirmative,addinggently:"Didyounotknowit?"

           Sheansweredangrily:"SoyouaregoingtomarrySuzanneWalter?Forthreemonthsyouhavedeceivedme.Everyoneknewofitbutme.Myhusbandtoldme.Sinceyouleftyourwifeyouhavebeenpreparingforthatstroke,andyoumadeuseofmeintheinterim.Whatarascalyouare!"

           Heasked:"Howdoyoumakethatout?Ihadawifewhodeceivedme;Isurprisedher,obtainedadivorce,andamnowgoingtomarryanother.Whatismoresimplethanthat?"

           Shemurmured:"Whatavillain!"

           Hesaidwithdignity:"Ibegofyoutobemorecarefulastowhatyousay."

           Sherebelledatsuchwordsfromhim:"What!Wouldyoulikemetohandleyouwithgloves?YouhaveconductedyourselflikearascaleversinceIhaveknownyou,andnowyoudonotwantmetospeakofit.Youdeceiveeveryone;yougatherpleasureandmoneyeverywhere,andyouwantmetotreatyouasanhonestman."

           Herose;hislipstwitched:"BesilentorIwillmakeyouleavetheserooms.