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THE CONFESSION OF A FOOL 127
"The doctor has advised him not to go on sinning
against nature."
She sank back on the sofa and hid her face in her hands.
Excited by these intimate confessions, I made an attempt
to put my arms round her. She offered no resistance, she
trembled and breathed heavily, but suddenly she felt
remorse and repulsed me.
Strange enigma which was beginning to provoke me !
What did she want from me? Everything! But she
shrank from the real crime, the illegitimate child.
I took her in my arms and kissed her, I tried to rouse her
passion. She freed herself and left me, but, I thought, a
shade less disappointed than before.
And now, what ?
Confess to the husband ? It has been done.
Give him details? . . . There are no details to give.
She continued to visit me.
And whenever she came, she sat down on the sofa on the
plea of fatigue.
I was ashamed of my timidity ; furious at my humilia-
tion ; afraid that she might think me a fool ; conflicting
emotions wore away my self-control, and the day came
when I watched her from my window, walking away slowly,
until she was hidden by the turn of the street. I sighed
heavily.
The son of the people had carried off the white skin,
the plebeian had won the aristocrat, the swineherd had
mated with the princess ! But he had paid a heavy price.
A storm was brewing. All sorts of rumours circulated
in the town. The fair fame of the Baroness had suffered.
Her mother asked me to call on her. I went.
"Is it true that you are in love with my daughter? "
"It is true."
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