“And you bring me the papers, my beloved friend?” asked Victoria, with an air of fascinating kindness.
“Yes,” said Bonnier, still remaining on the threshold, “I bring you the papers. But just look what a fool love has made of me! For your sake, I forgot the portfolio with those other papers, and dropped it on the floor there. Do you now perceive your power over me? For I believe I told you that the loss of those papers would ruin me irretrievably.”
“Yes, you told me so,” said Victoria, smiling.
“And yet I forgot them here!” exclaimed Bonnier, stooping to pick them up. But Victoria immediately rose and hastened to him.
“To punish you for your carelessness, you shall now leave the portfolio on the floor,” she said, smiling; “nor shall you think of it again as long as I am with you. Tell me, will that be too hard for you?”
She bent her beautiful face over him, and with flaming glances looked deeply into his eyes.
Bonnier dropped the portfolio again and smiled.
“It may lie there,” he said; “it has performed its part anyhow. And now, I suppose, we will talk again about our business?”
“Yes, we will,” replied Victoria. “Give me the papers.”
“No, madame; no one gives up such important papers without witnesses,” said Bonnier. “Permit me therefore to call my witnesses.”