A young girl, almost a child slipped in and said:

“Oh, let me take refuge here, monsieur, I beseech you!”

I motioned her to be silent and softly shut the door. I then encircled her waist to my arm and took her to my bedroom. There I was enabled to have a view of the bird just escaped from its cage and which had flown to me for protection.

My supposition was correct; it was indeed a lovely girl, barely fifteen, straight and pliant as a reed, though her form already showed signs of womanhood.

I placed my hand on her bosom by chance, and I felt a living globe as firm as marble.

The mere contact sent a thrill through my veins. There are indeed women who have received from nature the fascinating gift of exciting sensual desires at the slightest touch.

“How frightened I was!” she murmured.

“Really?”

“Oh yes! How fortunate that you were not yet in bed!”

“And what was the cause of that great fright?”

“Monsieur Beruchet.”

“Who is this Monsieur Beruchet?”

“The husband of the seamstress with whom I worked below.”

“And pray tell me, what did this Monsieur Beruchet do to you?”

“But you will keep me all night, will you not?”

“I shall keep you as long as you like. It is not my custom to turn pretty girls out of doors.”

“Oh, I am only a little girl. I am not a pretty girl.”

“Well! well!” I gave a look at her bosom and what I saw through the half-opened chemise gave me reason to think she was not such a little girl as all that.

“Tomorrow, at break of day, I must go!” she murmured softly.

“And where will you go?”

“To my sister's.”

“Your sister-and where does she live?”

“No. 4 Rue Chaptal.”

“Your sister lives in the Rue Chaptal?”

“Yes, on the first floor. She has two rooms and will lend me one.”

“And tell me, what is your sister doing in the Rue Chaptal?”