If the evil exists, as he says it does, in our middle-class society, I can assure him that everywhere else he would see a consoling spectacle.

Among the people, the mass of the people through town and country, girls do not deny themselves that pleasure." "It is depravity!" said Madame Cremeur.
And she praised the innocence of young girls in terms full of modesty and grace.

It was charming to hear her.
Professor Haddock's views on the same subject were, on the contrary, painful to listen to.
"Respectable young girls," said he, "are guarded and watched over.
Besides, men do not, as a rule, pursue them much, either through probity, or from a fear of grave responsibilities, or because the seduction of a young girl would not be to their credit.

Even then we do not know what really takes place, for the reason that what is hidden is not seen.

This is a condition necessary to the existence of all society.
The scruples of respectable young girls could be more easily overcome than those of married women if the same pressure were brought to bear on them, and for this there are two reasons: they have more illusions, and their curiosity has not been satisfied.