III
Lucien d'Aubier soon realized at his own expense that it is as dangerous to play with his imagination and senses as it is with his heart and that platonic love is not less violent than other love. He thought he was strong because he thought he did not love in the ordinary sense of the word: if he felt violent emotions with Miss Berard, she did not inspire any of those sweet and tender feelings inherent, it is said, in true love. He admired her, he didn't cherish her. She was acting much more on his nerves than on his heart. All proud of this discovery, certain to triumph, at some point, over what he called a whim or curiosity, he had gradually let himself be carried away by regrettable deviations, by dangerous disorders. He was paid for words, he should have known their reach. Caprice
