"He is fifty-three years old, Mordryn—but a fifty-three which women adore—You would probably fall in love with him also."
"It is possible."
"Can you expect me to be anything but pained then?"
"I have always told you that I consider you only as a friend, and that I only view your emotions for me as those of friendship; therefore there should be no pain even in such an idea according to my view."
"There is."
"I am sorry."
"But it does not change your determination?"
"No."
"I understand a man's killing a woman sometimes," and he clenched his hands passionately.
"So do I—when she deceives him, never because she is honest and unvarying. I have never deceived you or led you to hope for anything but friendship—that you have in full, and you have hundreds of times promised me yours; if you meant it I now ask you to give me a proof of it."