Page:Nalkowska - Kobiety (Women).djvu/171

Rh "Well, you see, I have one idée fixe, at least that's what my husband calls it."

"And that is? &hellip"

"Ah, what a coincidence to have met you, of whom I was just thinking!"

"Very good, but what do you want me for?"

"Wait a bit; I must begin at the beginning.

"Let me tell you that I consider it a most important point that we should, in the cause of Woman, meet and come to an understanding with women of so-called 'loose character.' And, in particular, enter into social relations with them. It is indeed an eccentricity on my part; but I enjoy stemming and making head against the current."

"It may lead to curious developments," I said.

"You are perfectly right. In the first place, we must all of us get to understand our community of interests. The social boycott which the whole demi-monde has to undergo, is a real civil war waged by women against one another; a weakening of our powers, to which men not only do not object, but which they also tend to aggravate. It is they who make 'those dreadful creatures, bereft of a conscience,' responsible for all the transgressions