well as my most secret thoughts. It is a
sacred contract which I am fulfilling.

I will, therefore, acknowledge that these bathing scenes shocked me
greatly, the first time I heard them spoken of. I resented it with a
species of disgust easy to understand, while I positively refused to
take part in them. To speak the truth, I was chafed a little; still,
these worldly railleries could not touch me, and had no effect on my
determination.

Yesterday, however, about five in the afternoon, the Marchioness sent
for me, and managed the affair so neatly, that it was impossible for me
not to act as her escort.

We started. The maid carried the bathing costumes both of the
Marchioness and of my sister, who was to join us later.

"I know," said my cousin, "that you swim well; the fame of your
abilities has reached us here from your college. You are going to teach
me to float, eh, Robert?"

"I do not set much store by such paltry physical acquirements, cousin,"
I replied; "I swim fairly, nothing more."

And I turned my head to avoid an extremely penetrating aroma with
which her hair was impregnated. You know very well that I am subject to
nervous attacks.

"But, my dear child, physical advantages are not so much to be
despised."

This "dear child" displeased me much. My cousin is twenty-six, it
is true, but I am no longer, properly speaking, a "dear child," and
besides, it denoted a familiarity which I did not care for. It was, on
the part of the Marchioness, one of the consequences of that frivolity
of mind, that carelessness of speech which I mentioned above, and
nothing more; still, I was shocked at it. She went on:

"Exaggerated modesty is not good form in society," she said, turning
toward me with a smile. "You will, in time, make a very handsome
cavalier, my dear Robert, and that which you now lack is easy to
acquire. For instance, you should have your hair dressed by the
Marquis's valet. He will do it admirably, and then you will be
charming."

You must understand, my dear Claude, that I met these advances with a
frigidity of manner that left no doubt as to my intentions.

"I repeat, my cousin," said I to her, "I attach to all this very little
importance," and I emphasized my words by a firm and icy look. Then
only, for I had not before cast my eyes on her, did I notice the
peculiar elegance of her toilette, an elegance for which, unhappily,
the perishable beauty of her person served as a pretext and an
enco