Ithendrewfrommypocket—bookalittlearticleoftransparentskin，abouteightincheslong，withoneopening，whichwasornamentedwitharedrosette。Igaveherthispreventivesheath，andshelooked，admired，andlaughedloudly，askingmeifIhadusedsucharticleswithherVenetiansister。\"Iwillputitonmyself；youdon’tknowhowIshallenjoyit。Whydidn’tyouuseonelastnight？Howcouldyouhaveforgottenit？Well，Ishallbeverywretchedifanythingcomesofit。WhatshallIdoinfourorfivemonths，whenmyconditionbecomespastdoubt？\"
\"Dearest，theonlythingtodoisnottothinkofit，forifthedamageisdone，thereisnocureforit；butfrommyexperienceandknowledgeofthelawsofnatureIexpectthatoursweetcombatsoflastnightwillprobablyhavenotroublesomeconsequences。Ithasbeenstatedthatafterchild—birthawomancannotconceiveafreshwithouthavingseensomethingwhichIexpectyouhavenotseen。\"
\"No，Godbethanked！\"
\"Good。Thenletusnotgiveanythoughttothedismalfuturelestweloseourpresentbliss。\"
\"Iamquitecomforted；butIcan’tunderstandwhyyouareafraidto—