My wife and my mistress became mothers at nearly the same time.

This coincidence suggested to me the fatal idea of sacrificing my legitimate son to his less fortunate brother.

I communicated this project to Valerie.

To my great surprise, she refused it with horror.
Already the maternal instinct was aroused within her; she would not be separated from her child.

I have preserved, as a monument of my folly, the letters which she wrote to me at that time.