Page 139 (1/2)

You had only been gone an hour when your father presented himself I

won't say what impression his severe face made upon me Your father had

the old theory that a courtesan is a being without heart or reason, a

sort of old, always ready, like the , and to tear in pieces,

without pity or discernment, those who set her in motion

Your father had written ht

consent to see him; he did not present himself quite as he had written

His , that I

had to make him understand that I was in my own house, and that I had no

need to render him an account of my life, except because of the sincere

affection which I had for his son

M Duval calmed down a little, but still went on to say that he could

not any longer allow his son to ruin himself over me; that I was

beautiful, it was true, but, however beautiful I ht not

to

At that there was only one thing to do, to show him the proof that since

I was your mistress I had spared no sacrifice to be faithful to you

without asking for ive me I showed him the

pawn tickets, the receipts of the people to whom I had sold what I could

not pawn; I told him of my resolve to part with my furniture in order

to paya too heavy expense I

told him of our happiness, of how you had shown me the possibility of

a quieter and happier life, and he ended by giving in to the evidence,

offeringpardon for the way in which he had at

first approached me