The remembrance of this unpardonably unchivalrous act often tortured
him afterwards, but his repentance by no means took the form of greater
respect for women. On the contrary, he became more and more a convert
to Don Juan's love--philosophy, and allowed only the millionaire and
Prince Etc. to sue for favour, while the sceptical Louis grew wholly
averse to the fair sex.
From early youth, he had secretly written lyric poetry, and his
productions, which, it is true, were imitative rather than original,
were pleasant to read and correct in form. He sent some under his own
name to great weekly periodicals, and they not only appeared at once
but he obtained the most flattering requests for more contributions.
This afforded him much gratification, but again only for a brief time.
Under the influence of his suspicious spirit of investigation, he sent
several poems, with an unpretending assumed signature, to other papers.
He either received no reply or curt rejections in the editors'
letter-box. So he was done with that too.
He tried the "naive" life of pleasure, as he called it.
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