i saw two women apart, one of which was talking: she looked round her every moment with that air of uneasiness which expresses a confidence the most mysterious. i lent my ear; and with great difficulty i heard what follows:

“i am obliged to thee, my dear countess, for the idea thou hast conceived of my prudence. hearken; i will hide nothing from thee; thou shalt see how far i may be relied on. we women are forced to guess things, they will never be told us plainly: but, with a little attention, it is easy for us to see how matters are. for my 83part, i have reflected on the maxims of the wise men of our days, and from thence have drawn these conclusions. it is only the mob that trouble themselves now about a future state; the rewards and punishments of another world are words without a meaning; which have long been discarded by people of fashion. beasts and men (of beasts the chief) are made to be guided by the senses; they should be actuated solely by the passions. let each attentively listen to what is inspired into him by nature, and let him follow her inspirations; that is the way to happiness. on the other hand, society cannot subsist without laws, and laws cannot be accommodated to the passions of every citizen. they therefore who have placed their happiness in what is forbidden by law, cannot 84behave too circumspectly. they must always walk in the shade; mystery should follow their steps, and cast a veil on all their proceedings: in a word, they may do what they will, provided they appear to do what they ought. these, my dear countess, are the maxims i have gathered from the philosophy of the time. i will not mention their influence on my conduct. perhaps i really am what i appear to be: but i should be quite otherwise, that i might appear always such.”

o babylon! (said i to myself) the leven has fermented the whole mass. thou appearest very corrupt; but thou art still more corrupt than thou appearest.