But, a report, louder even than the first, strikes at the same moment my ear and my nose.

I continue; a third, a fourth report, and, to make a long matter short, each movement gives an explosion with as much regularity as a conductor making the time for a piece of music! This extraordinary phenomenon, the confusion of the poor girl, our position--everything, in fact, struck me as so comical, that I burst into the most immoderate laughter, which compelled me to give up the undertaking.

Ashamed and confused, the young girl ran away, and I did nothing to hinder her.

After that she never had the courage to present herself before me.

I remained seated on the stairs for a quarter of an hour after she had left me, amused at the funny character of a scene which even now excites my mirth.