Oneeveningaftersupper，M。D————R—————havingretired，M。F————
usednoceremony，and，althoughIwaspresent，toldhiswifethatheintendedtopayheravisitafterwritingtwoletterswhichhehadtodispatchearlythenextmorning。Themomenthehadlefttheroomwelookedateachother，andwithoneaccordfellintoeachother’sarms。Atorrentofdelightsrushedthroughoursoulswithoutrestraint，withoutreserve，butwhenthefirstardourhadbeenappeased，withoutgivingmetimetothinkortoenjoythemostcomplete，themostdeliciousvictory，shedrewback，repulsedme，andthrewherself，panting，distracted，uponachairnearherbed。
Rootedtothespot，astonished，almostmad，Itremblinglylookedather，tryingtounderstandwhathadcausedsuchanextraordinaryaction。Sheturnedroundtowardsmeandsaid，hereyesflashingwiththefireoflove，\"Mydarling，wewereonthebrinkoftheprecipice。\"
\"Theprecipice！Ah！cruelwoman，youhavekilledme，Ifeelmyselfdying，andperhapsyouwillneverseemeagain。\"
Ileftherinastateoffrenzy，andrushedout，towardstheesplanade，tocoolmyself，forIwaschoking。AnymanwhohasnotexperiencedthecrueltyofanactionlikethatofMadameF————，andespeciallyinthesituationIfoundmyselfinatthatmoment，mentallyandbodily，canhardlyrealizewhatIsuffered，and，althoughIhavefeltthatsuffering，Icouldnotgiveanideaofit。