"And do you mean to send off this answer soon?" said Valentine.
"In a few minutes; but why do you ask me that question, pray?"
"Because," Valentine replied, "my friend and I will undertake, if you please, to convey it."
Don Tadeo opened his eyes with astonishment.
"How so?" he cried, "What do you mean by that? Can you think of leaving us?"
A melancholy smile played for a moment round the young man's lips; the ice was broken; the sacrifice must be bravely made, and he did not hesitate.
"Heaven is my witness," he said, shaking his head, "that it would be my most ardent wish to remain here."
"Yes," the count interrupted, taking, in spite of himself, a furtive glance at Rosario, who appeared to have no interest in what was passing; "yes, we have too long forgotten ourselves in your charming retreat. This delightful life enervates us; if we do not hasten to tear ourselves from it, we shall soon find it impossible to do so."
"You must leave us!" Don Tadeo repeated, whose countenance became cloudy, and his eyebrows contracted; "and what for?"
"Do you not know?" Louis replied, who took courage from the apparent carelessness of Rosario, "that when for the first time we had the good fortune to meet with you——"