TO MY DEAR WIFE TO WHOM I HAVE DEDICATED MY TWENTY HAPPIEST YEARS I DEDICATE ALSO THIS BRIEF MEMORIAL OF A LESS FORTUNATE LOVE WRITTEN AT PERUGIA SPRING 1893 FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE WHOLLY AND SOLELY TO SATISFY MY OWN TASTE AND MY OWN CONSCIENCE
"But surely no woman would ever dare to do so," said my friend.
"I knew a woman who did," said I; "and this is her story."