“‘I robbed the house of her father once, and was concealed therein for three days, and could not get out again. During that time I saw a great deal of young Evelina from my hiding place, and fell desperately in love with her.’
“‘With her jewels, perhaps,’ I remarked.
“‘Just so,’ he answered, ‘and I resolved by fair means or by foul to become possessed of her.’
“‘Well, and how did you succeed?’ I asked.
“‘Unfortunately she got married a week afterwards, and I almost went distracted.’
“‘What did you do?’
“‘Why, with the money and jewels which I stole I dressed myself up, and often met her husband, Count Felix.
“‘He seemed to take a great liking to me, and, as he was rather old and ugly, I began to think it would not take much to make a fool of him.
“‘He invited me to dine with him, and I accepted, but after dinner business took him away from the festive board for an hour or so.
“‘She sang, and played the guitar divinely, and I got so warm in love that I began to whisper and throw out hints to her that her husband was unfaithful to her, and had at that moment gone forth to meet some strange flame.