"Your words are sweeter to me than you can well imagine. By and by you will understand me better. I need your affection, and I need your assistance, but I am about to put your interest in me to a very severe test."
"You have but to express your wishes," said Goutran.
Carmen waited. Evidently she had not strength to go on with her explanation.
"Listen to me," she resumed. "I owe you a declaration which will remove every possibility of a misunderstanding between us. A few days ago, when on the terrace of your house my hands rested in yours, I fully realized that, so far as you were concerned, a tacit engagement from that moment existed between us."
"From that moment," interrupted Goutran, "I felt that if you would accept my hand and name——"
"And yet you did not apply to Monsieur Laisangy?" said Carmen, gently.
"Did you doubt me? I did not dare."
"And you were right, for, Monsieur Goutran, I can never be your wife!"
Goutran rose quickly.