\"Weweretoopoortowritetooneanother，sowehadtosufferinsilence。\"
Thispathetichistoryseemedtobearthemarksoftruth；andI
thoughtitverypossiblethatMatonhadonlycomewithmetomakeherfortuneortodoratherbetterthanshehadbeendoing，whichwouldnotbedifficult。Shewastwenty—fiveyearsold，andasshehadneverbeenoutofBreslaubefore，shewoulddoubtlessbedelightedtoseewhattheworldwaslikeatDresden。IcouldnothelpfeelingthatIhadbeenafooltoburdenmyselfwiththegirl，whowouldmostlikelycostmealotofmoney；butstillIfoundmyconductexcusable，asthechanceswereahundredtooneagainstheracceptingtheproposalIhadbeenfoolishenoughtomake。Inshort，Iresolvedtoenjoythepleasureofhavingaprettygirlalltomyself，andI
determinednottodoanythingduringthejourney，beinganxioustoseewhetherhermoralqualitieswouldpleadasstronglywithmeasherphysicalbeautyundoubtedlydid。AtnightfallIstopped，wishingtospendthenightattheposting—station。Maton，whohadbeenveryhungryallday，buthadnotdaredtotellmeso，atewithanamazingandpleasingappetite；butnotbeingaccustomedtowine，shewouldhavefallenasleepattable，ifIhadnotbeggedhertoretire。Shebeggedmypardon，assuringmeshewouldnotletsuchathingoccuragain。Ismiledbywayofreply，andstayedatthetable，notlookingtoseewhethersheundressedorwenttobedinherclothes。
Iwenttobedmyselfsoonafter，andatfiveo’clockwasupagaintoorderthecoffee，andtoseethatthehorseswereputin。Matonwaslyingonherbedwithallherclotheson，fastasleep，andperspiringwiththeheat。Iwokeher，tellingherthatanothertimeshemustsleepmorecomfortably，assuchheatswereinjurioustohealth。