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He was very well aware that he ran no risk of being ridiculous in

the eyes of Betsy or any other fashionable people. He was very

well aware that in their eyes the position of an unsuccessful

lover of a girl, or of any woman free to marry, might be

ridiculous. But the position of a man pursuing a married woman,

and, regardless of everything, staking his life on drawing her

into adultery, has something fine and grand about it, and can

never be ridiculous; and so it was with a proud and gay smile

under his mustaches that he lowered the opera-glass and looked at

his cousin.

"But why was it you didn't come to dinner?" she said, admiring

him.

"I must tell you about that. I was busily employed, and doing

what, do you suppose? I'll give you a hundred guesses, a thousand

... you'd never guess. I've been reconciling a husband with a man

who'd insulted his wife. Yes, really!"

"Well, did you succeed?"

"Almost."