Still, she is far away, and this one is near.

But it could be wished that she were more experienced, for then, since she likes him well enough, all would be sure.

What does a man count in such a case--especially when he is so young?
Pish! nothing at all," and Madame snapped her fingers at the empty air.

"It is the woman who holds the cards, if only she knows how to play them." Now all these things happened on a Wednesday.

When Godfrey went to bed that night uncomfortable memories of Madame Riennes, and of the chaste embrace which she had forced him to impress upon her expansive forehead, haunted him for a while, also fears for the future.