“I do not mean that. You know. I mean I am not a good woman—as women are counted good.”
“I am accustomed to form my own judgments and to trust them.”
“I should only ruin you. It is impossible.”
“Wait until I am ruined and then see. But you would not ruin me, on the contrary I should save you from ruin.”
“You are very self-confident.”
“Because I love you.”
The directness of the reply seemed to please her, for she smiled.
“You are very concise, monsieur.”
“This is no time to waste words. We have a crisis to face.”
She paused, and her face hardened a little as if in defiance.