I was intoxicated with a felicity which seemed too immense, and yet I felt melancholy, but Henriette, who looked sad likewise, had no reproach to address to me.

Our sadness was in reality nothing but shyness; we loved each other, but we had had no time to become acquainted.

We exchanged only a few words, there was nothing witty, nothing interesting in our conversation, which struck us both as insipid, and we found more pleasure in the thoughts which filled our minds.

We knew that we were going to pass the night together, but we could not have spoken of it openly.

What a night! what a delightful creature was that Henriette whom I have loved so deeply, who has made me so supremely happy! It was only three or four days later that I ventured on asking her what she would have done, without a groat in her possession, having not one acquaintance in Parma, if I had been afraid to declare my love, and if I had gone to Naples.