Strozzi dropped Barbesieur's arm, and returned to her at once.
"You have something to command?" said he, humbly.
"I do not wish to dine to-day," said she. "It will be useless, then, for you to return."
"I cannot deny myself that pleasure," was the reply.
Laura constrained herself to soften her tone, and to implore. "Only this one day," said she, in trembling tones. "I need repose—quiet— "
"To weep out the first pangs of widowhood," interrupted Barbesieur, with one of his coarse laughs. "Come, Strozzi—let her cry it out to-day, she will be all the more smiling for it to-morrow."
"Then as you please," said Strozzi, bowing respectfully. "I will not return until to-morrow before noon."
"Tell my turnkeys that they need not disturb me," said Laura. "Let me be veritably and entirely alone."
"You cannot dispense with their help," objected the marquis.
"I can and will dispense with their presence," returned Laura. "And may I ask of you, as a guaranty that I shall not be disturbed, to leave the keys inside? The bolts without are secure, and the women can watch by the doors to see that I do not attempt to escape."