"Is ever anything all honesty, madame—saving your devotion to the King?"
"And the French lady's to her religion?" laughed Nell. "On my soul, I think the picture that the King of France saw was a fair one. Have you looked on it, Simon?"
"On my life I don't love her."
"On my life you will."
"You seek to stop me by that prophecy?"
"I don't care whom you love," said she. Then her face broke into smiles. "What liars women are!" she cried. "Yes, I do care; not enough to grow wrinkled, but enough to wish I hadn't grown half a lady and could——"
"You stop?"
"Could—could—could slap your face, Simon."
"It would be a light infliction after breaking a man's heart," said I, turning my cheek to her and beckoning with my hand.