"Why, Catherine, you are so pretty as to make one fear. I did not
dare to look at you. And one day I clearly Law that you were
thoroughly offended with me."

"I had every reason for it, M. Jacques; you took that Savoyard in
preference to me, that scum of the Port Saint Nicolas."

"Ah! be quite sure, Catherine, that I did not do so by wish or
inclination, but only because she found ways and means energetic
enough to vanquish my timidity."

"Oh! my friend, you may believe me, as I am the elder of us two,
timidity is a great sin against love. But did you not see that that
beggar had holes in her stockings and a seam of filth and mud, half-
an-ell high, on the bottom of her petticoat?"

"I saw it, Catherine."

"Have you not seen, Jacques, how badly she is made and that really
she is skinny?"

"I saw it, Catherine."

"And withal you loved that Savoyard she-monkey, you who have a white
skin and distinguished manners!"

"I cannot understand it myself, Catherine. It must have been that at
that moment my imagination was full of you. And it was your image
only gave me the pluck and strength you reproach me with to-day.
Imagine yourself, Catherine, my rapture to press you in my arms,