"He seduced a maid."
"Who was she?"
"Mademoiselle Colombe d'Estourville, daughter of the Provost of Paris."
"What then?"
"What then! why I say that it's unjust, when we both committed the same crime, to make a distinction in the punishment. What! you send him to prison and fine me twenty Paris sous! In God's name, is there no justice in this world?"
"On the contrary," rejoined the magistrate, "it is because there is justice in this world, and enlightened justice too, that this is as it is."
"How so?"
"There are honors and honors, my young rascal; the honor of a noble maiden is valued at imprisonment; the honor of a grisette is worth twenty Paris sous. If you want to go to the Châtelet, you must try your arts on a duchess, and then the affair will take care of itself."
"But this is frightful! immoral! outrageous!" cried the student.
"My dear friend," said the judge, "pay your fine and begone!"