"As you would for Youmäale?"
"As for Youmäale."
"Then you love the three equally?"
"Yes, because all three love me equally."
"She has a rooted idea and no one can dislodge it," thought the Gascon; "I lose my trouble. Her accent is too frank to be assumed. It may be that evil tongues have slandered a fraternal affection that this young woman bears for these three bandits. Though the buccaneer gave me to understand—after all, perhaps I misunderstood him and, as I am going to leave her, I would much rather believe her more innocent than culpable; although she does appear very hard to me to acquit." He went on: "A last question, madame. What was the object of the atrocious tales that you and the buccaneer related last night concerning two of your deceased husbands—that one had died of laughter and the other been used as a lamp, thanks to the intervention of Satan who always, according to the same story, signs your marriage contract? You must feel, madame, that, however polite I may be, it is extremely difficult for me to appear to believe such follies as these."
"They are not follies."
"How—you wish me to believe——"
"Oh, you must believe them, and many other things, after you have evidence of them," said the widow, with a peculiar tone.
"And when will you explain this mystery to me, madame?"
"When I tell you the price I place upon my hand."