“Well! what about that?” I said. “That’s nothing important; it will soon be arranged, and the count will return.”
“He has asked me to go with him.… What if I refuse? If I don’t accompany him? What do you think? He’ll not desert me, as all the others have done, and disappear for ever?”
“Oh! but why not go?” answered I, following the idea of the count. “It’s a simple promenade. Why not accompany the count? The weather is splendid. It could only be a pleasure trip for you both.”
“Yes,” she answered thoughtfully, “I should very much like to see the town and your fleet; the count praises his sailors so highly.”
“Well, and what is there to prevent your going?” I said thoughtfully. “Yes,” I said to myself, “it would seem that the count is very persistent. He won’t leave her alone for a single instant.”
“Ah! yes! I was forgetting,” said the Princess, as though collecting her thoughts.
Looking at her, I could see that her eyes were full of tears, her lips trembling, and that, though looking at me, she seemed not to see me.
“Listen!” she said reluctantly. “You’re an honest man.… The count has made me an offer of marriage—has proposed to me. What do you think of it?”
I rose respectfully.
“Allow me to congratulate you from the bottom of my heart,” I said earnestly, bowing. “Your merit has triumphed over everything. But there is nothing wonderful in that.”