“You did not wish that a month ago.”
“No, but when I see how you love him.”
“Ah! you are laughing at me.”
“Oh, no, you have resisted all my advances so well.”
“Yes, have I not?”
“It was your love for him.”
“But yours, then, was not very tenacious.”
“No, I am neither old enough nor ugly enough, neither poor enough nor foolish enough, to run the risk of a refusal; and I saw that you would always have preferred Beausire.”
“Oh, but,” cried the coquette, using her eyes, which had remained idle so long, “this famous compact which you proposed to me, the right of always giving me your arm, of visiting me when you liked; did that give you no hope?”
Cagliostro did not reply, but turned his eyes as if dazzled by her glances.