"Well?" asked Adela in a low tone, eager in spite of her hatred of the topic.
"Never your love," said he; and added, "yet I believe I, who am old enough to know better, and too old to learn better, have almost given him mine. Well, I am not a woman."
"He can't hurt you," said Adela.
"Yes, he can," said the Baron with a dreary smile.
Adela was not thinking of her companion.
"Why do you talk of it?" she asked impatiently.
"I know I was wrong."
"No, no. I mean, why do you talk of it now?"
"Because," said the Baron, "he will not. Have you seen no change in him this week? A week ago, he laughed when I talked to him. He did not mind me speaking—it was still a trifle—nonsense—a week ago; if you like, an amusement, a pastime!"
"Well, and now?"