“I am on the floor, Carinne?”

“On the floor, mon ami.”

“I am not so little a weight, you see. You tried to support me to the bench and failed—for I know.”

“But you were a dead-weight.”

“Not dead yet, chattemite. Only I think I am dying.”

“No, no, little Thibaut! À Dieu ne plaise! You will not be so wicked. And what makes you think so?”

“I am so near heaven.”

“Do you mean me? But I burn.”

“Kiss me, then, and give me of your fire.”

“But, if you were to recover?”