Overview

A comedy that is both funny and thought provoking. Monsieur Morin, a homely looking man, gets an urge, while riding on a train, to kiss a young girl. He does and is arrested and disgraced. To try to prevent the girl from taking the matter to court, he enlists the help of his best friend, Labarbe. He sends Labarbe to see the girl, Henriette, with the aim of dissuading her from pressing the matter. However, Labarbe, because he is handsome, can take every liberty he pleases with Henriette, and she loves it. At the wry conclusion we see how physical attractiveness is rewarded and unattractiveness punished. Published in Necklace & Other Short Stories.