"I will certainly try—Sharp?—it is not a name of the great world—no—?"
"Of course that is not her real name—"
"Why not ask her yourself, Mon brave!"
"I'd like to find a man with pluck enough to ask her anything she did not wish him to!"
"That little girl!—but she appeared meek and plain, and respectable, Nicholas—You intrigue me!"
"Well, put your wits to work Maurice, and promise me you will not talk to the others about anything. I shall be very angry if you do."
He gave me every assurance he would be silent as the grave—and then he changed the topic to that of Suzette—He was sorry I had given her her congé, because I would find it hard to replace her—Those so honest and really not too rapacious, were very difficult to find—Since he had heard that Suzette was no longer my little friend, he had been looking out for me, but as yet had seen nothing suitable!!
"You need not trouble, Maurice," I told him, "I am absolutely finished with that part of my life—I loathe the whole idea of it now—."
Maurice inspected me with grave concern—.
"My dear chap—this appears serious—You are not in love with your secretary are you?—or is it possible that you are bluffing, and that she has replaced Suzette, and you wish tranquility about the subject?"