Matilda cannot wait for her husband to be away so she can invite Captain Sommerive into her house and heart. But as their love affair grows more passionate, Matilda begins to see that the secret could cost her everything. With her fifteen month old son crying at the very sight of her lover, and the Captain himself growing bolder by the minute, it seems inevitable that Matilda's husband must discover the betrayal. In this short story Maupassant paints a dark and satirical portrayal of the lives of women, exploring the tragedy of a cycle of neglect with pointed wit and a wicked sense of humour.