The cuckold himself or the unexpected reconciliation

One of the biggest flaws of those evil high hazard is always a host of indiscretions, to gossip or slander about everything that breathes, and this in front of people they do not know, we can not imagine the amount of cases that have become the fruit of such chatter: what is the honest man indeed who will hear say anything bad about what interests without restating the fool who dares? It is not enough going into the education of young people the principle of wise restraint, we do not teach them enough about the world, names, qualities, adjacent persons with whom they are meant to live; we put in place that nonsense miles are good only trample upon what the age of reason. It always seems that these were the Capuchins are raised: at any instant of bigotry, of mummeries or useless, and never a good maxim of morality. Go further, ask a young man on his real duties to the company, ask him what he owes to himself and what he owes to others, how he must lead them to be happy: he will tell you that he has learned to go to Mass and to recite a litany, but he understands nothing of what you tell him that he has learned to dance, sing but not to live with men. The case became a result of the inconvenience we paint, was not serious to the point of shedding blood, it does a joke and that's the detail that we are going to abuse a few minutes from the patience of our readers.

M. Raneville, aged about fifty years, had one of those characters that do phlegmatic meeting point without some pleasure in the world, laughing slightly, but by many others laugh and by the projections of his biting wit and how cool that he said he was often, or her only silence or expressions of his face slapstick silent, the secret of entertaining a thousand times more circles where it was recognized that these heavy talkers heavy, monotonous , always a story to make you laugh they one hour in advance without being fortunate enough to cheer up just a minute the foreheads of those who listen. He had a big enough job on farms, and to console a very bad marriage once contracted by him in Orleans, after having abandoned his wife dishonest, he ate quietly in Paris twenty or twenty-five thousand pounds of annuities with a beautiful woman he entertained some friends and as friendly as him.

The mistress of M. de Raneville was not exactly a girl, was a married woman and therefore more pungent because they may say, this little salt adultery is often much enjoyment to the price and it was very pretty, aged thirty years, the best body possible, separated from a husband and boring, she had come from the provinces to seek his fortune in Paris, and was not long in finding it. Raneville naturally libertine, on the lookout for all the right pieces, had not missed that one, and for three years by very honest treatment, by a lot of spirit and a lot of money, he would forget this young woman all the sorrows that the hymen had once enjoyed planting his steps. Having both roughly the same fate, they consoled themselves together, and confirmed in this great truth that person does not correct yet, there are so many unhappy marriages and so much misery in the world, because parents or greedy fools match rather than the fortunes moods: For Raneville often said to his mistress, he is quite certain that if fate had united us both, instead we give you a husband and tyrant ridiculous, and to me a whore wife, roses were born under our feet instead of thorns so long as we picked.

Some event which is quite useless to speak, led one day to Mr. Raneville this muddy village and unhealthy called Versailles, where the kings made to be worshiped in their capital, seem to flee the presence of individuals who desire , where ambition, greed, revenge, and pride drive daily from a host of unhappy on the wing of boredom sacrifice to the idol of the day, where the elite of the French nobility who could play an important role in his land, agrees to come in humble antechamber, how crass Swiss court's door, or humbly beg a dinner as good as hers in some of these individuals pulled a fortune when clouds of oblivion for them plunge shortly after.

His business done, Mr. de Raneville back in one of these cars court called pot de chambre, and there is incidentally associated with a certain M. Dutour, very talkative, very round, very thick, large sneering , used as M. Raneville farms in the department, but his Orleans home, which as we just said also happens to be that of M. de Raneville. The conversation begins, Raneville always terse and did not know already revealing the name, nickname, country, and the affairs of his fellow road before only to have even said a word. Learned these details, Mr Dutour between a little more in those of society.

- You were in Orleans, sir, "said Dutour, I think you just tell me.

- I spent a few months ago.

- And have you known, I pray you, some of Ms. Raneville, a leading p. that ever lived Orleans?

- Madame de Raneville, a pretty woman.

- Exactly.

- Yes, I saw this in the world.

- Well, I tell you confidentially that I had, that is to say three days, as it were. Certainly if there is a cuckold husband, we can say that it is poor Raneville.

- And do you know him?

- Not otherwise is wrong about who ruin in Paris, said, with girls like him and evildoers.

- I will not say anything, I do not know, but I pity the cuckolded husbands, you're not, you, by chance, sir?

- Which one do you mean both, or is it cuckold husband?

- But both these things bind so today it is indeed very difficult to make a difference.

- I am married, sir, I had the misfortune to marry a woman who has settled point with me, his character well suited me very little, we parted amicably, she desired in Paris to share the solitude of one of his relatives religious convent of Sainte-Aure, and she lives in that house, it gives me time to time from him, but I do not see her.

- Is she devout?

- No, I might like better.

- Ah! I hear you. And you have not even had the curiosity to inform you of his health, in the living present your business forces you to do now in Paris?

- Not really, I do not like convents friend of joy, cheerfulness, created for pleasure, looked up in circles, I am advised no point to risk in a parlor at least six months vapors.

- But a woman ...

- ... Is an individual who may be interested when it's used, but he must learn to detach firmly when reasonable grounds us away.

- There is hardness in what you say.

- Not at all ... philosophy ... is the tone of the day is the language of reason, we must adopt or pass for a fool.

- This implies a fault in your wife, explain this to me: lack of character, conduct or complacency.

- A bit of everything ... a little of everything, sir, but let it, please, and return to the dear Madame de Raneville: palsembleu, I do not understand that you were no fun at Orleans this creature ... but everyone has it.

- Everyone, no, because you see I have not had: I do not like married women.

- And without much curiosity, with whom do you spend your time, sir, please?

- My business first, and then a rather pretty creature with which I occasionally soup.

- You're not married, sir?

- I am.

- And your wife?

- It is the province and I left there, as you leave yours at Saint Aure.

- Married, sir, married, and would you be of the brotherhood, with teach me.

- Do not I told cuckold husband and two words are synonyms? moral depravity, luxury ... so many things make a woman fall.

- Oh! it's true, sir, it's true.

- You reply by educated man.

- Not at all, so therefore, sir, a very nice person you console the absence of the neglected wife.

- Yes indeed, a very nice person, I want you to know.

- Sir, do me great honor.

- Oh! no manners, sir, we are in port, I leave you free tonight because of your business, but tomorrow without fail I expect you to dinner at the attached.

Raneville and takes care to give a false, he warned on the spot at home, so that those who will ask in the name he can find it easily.

The next day, he never fails to Dutour appointments, and the precautions being taken so that although under an assumed name, he might find Raneville home, he entered without difficulty. The first compliment, Dutour seems anxious not to see again the deity on which he relies.

- Men's impatient, "said Raneville, I see by your eyes that look ... we promised you a pretty woman, you would already hovering around her accustomed to dishonor the front of the husbands of Orleans, you would like, I am of course, deal with even the lovers of Paris: I bet you I'd be glad to cram the same rank as the unfortunate Raneville you entertained me so pleasantly yesterday.

Dutour meets a man-killer in fat and therefore a fool, the conversation for a moment and exult Raneville, taking his friend by the hand:

- Come, he said, cruel man, come to the temple where the deity is waiting for you.

So saying, he brought in a firm voluptuous Dutour, where the mistress of Raneville prepared with the joke and the word was in the most elegant undress on a couch of velvet, but veiled nothing concealed the elegance and richness to its size, there was his face that it was impossible to see.

- This is a very nice person, "exclaims Dutour, but why deny myself the pleasure of admiring her features are we here in the harem of the great Lord?

- Not a word is a matter of modesty.

- How to modesty?

- Surely, you think that I want to stick to only show you the size or color of my mistress, my triumph was so complete it, by stealing all these veils, I do not convince you how happy I am to be possession of so many charms. As this young woman is singularly modest, she would blush to these details and she has kindly consented, but under the express terms of being veiled. You know what it is that modesty and delicacy of women, he Dutour, this is not a man stylish and fashionable as you think it imposes on those things!

- How to honor you show me?

- Everything I told you, no less jealousy than me, the happiness that seems bland taste alone, I find that one of delight that is shared.

And to persuade his maxims, Raneville first removed a handkerchief of gauze which exposes at once the most beautiful gorge it is possible to see ... Dutour ignites.

- Hein said Raneville, how do you find this?

- These are the charms of Venus herself.

- Do you think the studs so white and so firm were made to light fires ... touch, touch, my friend, her eyes sometimes deceive us, my opinion is that pleasure, we must employ all the senses.

Dutour approach a trembling hand, he feels ecstatic with the finest in the world, and can not return to the incredible kindness of his friend.

- Will lower, "said Raneville pointing to the middle of the body a light taffeta skirt, and nothing precludes the incursion, well, what do you think of those thighs, do you believe that the temple love is best supported by columns?

And the beloved Dutour palpating always everything developed Raneville:

- Trickster, I guess, continues the complaisant friend, this temple delicate than the Graces themselves were covered with a lightweight foam ... you burn the partially open, is not it? nay, to pick them a kiss, I bet.

And Dutour, blinded ... stammering ... that no longer met by violent feelings which his eyes were the organs is encouraged ... libertines his fingers caress the gates of the temple that pleasure even cracked open his desires: the kiss that God permits, he enjoys it and gives it an hour.

- Friend, "he said, I do not want more, or drive me to you, or allow me to go further.

- How, further, and where the hell do you go, please?

- Alas, do you not hear me, I am drunk with love, I can no longer contain myself.

- And if this woman is ugly?

- It is impossible to be with attractions so divine.

- If it is ...

- Whether anything she wants, I tell you, my dear, I can not resist.

- Come on, terrible friend, come on, you met since it must be: I know you at least according to my convenience?

- Ah! the greatest without doubt.

Dutour and gently repelled the hand of his friend as to induce him to leave him alone with this woman.

- Oh! to leave you, no, I can not, "said Raneville, but are you so scrupulous that you can not satisfy you in my presence? for men it is no respecter of those ways: the rest are my terms, or in front of me, or point.

- Was it before the devil, "said Dutour, does contain more and rushing to the shrine where the incense is burning, you want it, I agree with everything ...

- Well said coolly Raneville, appearances you have deceived them, and comforts promised by many charms are they real or illusory ... ah! Never, never, I saw nothing so voluptuous.

- But it damn sailing friend, treacherous sailing, will I do it not permissible to remove?

- Yes, indeed ... at the last moment, at that time so delectable, where all our senses seduced by drink of the gods, she can make us as wealthy as themselves, and often much higher. This surprise double your ecstasy to enjoy the charm of the body of Venus herself, you will add the inexpressible delight of contemplating the features of Flora, and all coming together to increase your happiness, you dive much better in this ocean of delights, where Man found with such sweet solace of his existence ... You make me sign ...

- Oh! you guessed right, "said Dutour, I lose myself in that time.

- Yes, I see you're fiery.

- But in a fiery point ... oh my friend, I touch this moment heaven, rip, tear up the sails, as I contemplate the sky itself.

- There he is, "said Raneville by removing the gauze, but beware that there may be a little close to this paradise to hell!

- Oh good heavens, "exclaimed Dutour acknowledging his wife ... What is you madam ... sir, how weird joke, you deserve ... the rogue ...

- One moment, one moment, fiery man, it's you who deserve all, learn, my friend, he must be a little more cautious with people you do not know, you do smart with me yesterday . This unfortunate Raneville that you treated so badly in Orleans ... I myself, sir, you see that I will go to Paris for the rest, you're much more advanced than you thought, you imagine you have made me cuckold and you just do it yourself.

Dutour felt the lesson, he extended his hand to his friend, and admitted that he had what he deserved.

- But this treacherous ...

- Well, do you imitate does not, what is the law which binds inhumanly barbaric that sex giving us our freedom, is it fair? and by what law of nature, lock yourself in your wife Sainte-Aure, while in Paris and Orleans you make cuckolds husband? My friend, this is not fair, this charming creature that you could not get the price came to look for other conquests: it was right, she found me, I am happiness, do whatever Madame de Raneville, I agree, every four live happy, and that victims do not become the fate of men.

Dutour found that his friend was right, but by an inconceivable fatality, he was again in love like a fool by his wife; Raneville while he was caustic, his soul was too good to resist the entreaties of his wife to get back Dutour, the young person consented, and it was in this unique event without doubt a very singular example of the twists of fate and the vagaries of love.