"I hide nothing from you, Sophie. Ah, well, yes. One time I had a desire to marry,—that was a grand passion, a romance," replied Madeleine, gaily.
"Well, as you are free, who prevented this marriage?"
"Alas! I saw my hero for five minutes only, and from my balcony."
"Only five minutes?"
"Not more."
"And you loved him at once?"
"Passionately."
"And you have never seen him since?"
"Never! No doubt he has been translated to heaven among his brothers, the archangels, whose ideal beauty he possessed."
"Madeleine, are you speaking seriously?"