I bit my handkerchief in my indignation; but, absorbed by one fixed idea, I rose and said to him with emphasis:
"You claim that Leoni has authorized you to make me these infamous propositions: prove it! yes, monsieur, prove it!"
And I shook his arm with convulsive force.
"Parbleu! my dear girl," the villain retorted with his hateful sang-froid, "it's very easy to prove. But how is it that you don't understand it? Leoni no longer loves you; he has another mistress."
"Prove it!" I repeated, thoroughly exasperated.
"In a moment, in a moment," said he. "Leoni is in great need of money, and there are some women of a certain age whose countenance may be advantageous."
"Prove to me all that you say," I cried, "or I turn you out of the house instantly."
"Very well," he replied, not at all disconcerted; "but let us make a bargain: if I have lied to you, I will leave the house and never put my foot inside it again; but if I told you the truth when I said that Leoni has authorized me to speak to you about Lord Edwards, you will allow me to come again this evening with him."
As he spoke he took from his pocket a letter, on the envelope of which I recognized Leoni's handwriting.
"Yes!" I cried, carried away by the irresistible desire to know my fate; "yes, I promise."