"It is that I know such pleasant arrangement to be impossible that I speak, some friends having taken a French flat for me."
"Ah, I do regret this is the case," said Lady Esmondet.
"At all events, Bertram, we can enter the gates together hand-in- hand, four-in-hand; so cheer up, old fellow," cried Douglas.
"Roland, mon cher," said Vaura, "you must bring Isabel from Madame
Rochefort's to our hotel, even for a few days, ere your return to
Surrey."
"Exactly my plan, fair demoiselle."
"That is" she continued, merrily, "if you promise to be submissive, and not become a monopolist; for when you, Isabel, and myself are together, I feel as if I had lost myself; I don't know to whom I belong; you want me, Isabel wants me, until I don't know where I am."
"Belong to me, Vaura dear," he said, earnestly, and only heard by her, "and all will be well;" aloud he said: "Submissive! yea, as a lamb; by the beard of the Prophet I swear it."
"It would not be such a long look to swear by your own; you have a very handsome one."
"Merci, dear Lady Esmondet; I shall take greater pride than ever in it, now it has developed a new use."
"Or, being a true believer, you might have used Aaron's," said Vaura; "only that then would the Prophet have no rest, even in the tomb."