Double Standards In The Secret Woman

Without knowing the author of "The Secret Woman," it's possible to perceive this book as a night of double standards. At first, the reader is forced to believe that Irene is in the wrong for going to the Opera Ball without her husband knowing. Yet, her husband did the same thing, "I'll be spending tomorrow night at Nogent," explaining he was going to be spending the night at work caring for an elderly patient (38). The story, written from the husband's point of view, expresses an admiration for Irene even after realizing she was lying to her husband by going to the ball. It should be known that Colette, the author, was known for creating stories that contained homosexual relationships. This now known, it seems possible that this short story was less about the double standard that developed throughout the story, but rather the admiration towards Irene.
The title alone not only describes Irene, but Colette as well. Colette could be 'The Secret Woman' being that it was written in a time where homosexuality is a secret, this book as well as her "The Pure and the Impure" could have been written to express a different side of her that she had to keep hidden. Irene also being "The Secret Woman' sneaked out to the ball after her husband had left, since the ball was a masquerade party it was set up almost similarly to a Cinderella story, but in the man's point of