"Then I would care nothing for it."
"Not if it left an incurable wound?"
"Did it?"
"It did!"
"My God! How have I been deceived."
"Don't be alarmed, my dear, the wound was not in the heart—it was in pride."
"How?"
"I was not troubled at heart, but the girl I fancied gave me mortal offense, and I would be revenged!"
"How so? What is this? Don't love, and wish revenge! Revenge for what? And that dark frown—what means all this?"
"Be calm; you are excited; you fear my truth; and where there is no confidence, love soon departs. I can soon explain all. In my young days I fell in love with a beautiful girl of my own age; but soon learned that she was not virtuous, and with this knowledge my love changed into desire. As the least return for my love, to gain which she had recourse to all the wiles and blandishments of a coquette, I wished to possess her for a time; but she spurned me from her presence as she would a dog! From that hour I have sworn to have my revenge and gain my point. My hour has now come, and I can accomplish my oath, provided I am secure of one thing."