"I thought I had answered your Grace on that question." Then she put down the grapes, and moved herself on her chair, so that she sat with her face turned away from him.
"But a request to a lady may be made twice."
"Oh, yes. And I am grateful, knowing how far it is from your intention to do me any harm. And I am somewhat ashamed of my warmth on the other day. But still there can be but one answer. There are delights which a woman must deny herself, let them be ever so delightful."
"I had thought,—" the Duke began, and then he stopped himself.
"Your Grace was saying that you thought,—"
"Marie, a man at my age does not like to be denied."
"What man likes to be denied anything by a woman at any age? A woman who denies anything is called cruel at once,—even though it be her very soul." She had turned round upon him now, and was leaning forward towards him from her chair, so that he could touch her if he put out his hand.
He put out his hand and touched her. "Marie," he said, "will you deny me if I ask?"
"Nay, my lord; how shall I say? There is many a trifle I would deny you. There is many a great gift I would give you willingly."
"But the greatest gift of all?"