exceeding beauty; he lives with her for a time. The second captivates
him, or rather holds him through his senses; his love for her is
merely a sensuality; then he falls in love with a fair young girl as
pure as falling snow of any stain in deed or in thought; he is engaged
to marry her--or, I don't know, I haven't made up my mind on that
point, perhaps it would be better if he did marry her. Well, the woman
whom he has loved with a merely sensual passion comes back, and to
revenge herself she tries to tempt the good girl to go wrong; she
talks to her of men and pleasures; this is a good idea, I think, for I
feel sure it is women far more than men who lead women astray. Then
the first woman whom he has loved for her beauty merely, comes along
and continues the diabolical work of the first, by suggesting--I don't
know, anything--that the young girl should go in for dress; the young
man finds out the scheme, and to save the girl he murders her, he is
thrown into prison, he is tried, and in the crowded Court he makes a
great speech--he tells how he murdered her to save her from sin, he
tells the judge that on the Judgment Day a pure white soul will plead
for him. What an opportunity for a piece of splendid writing! The
Court would be filled with fashionable women, that weep and sob, they
cannot contain themselves, the judge would wish to stop the young man,
but he cannot. What a splendid scene to describe! And the young man
goes to execution confident, and assured that he has done well. What
do you think of it?"

"It is really difficult for me to say; I never like giving an opinion
on a subject I don't understand."

"I know; but what do you think?"

Fortunately for Willy's peace, the conversation was at this moment