"Ah! I understand," she said; "no doubt they are the women of his harem?"
"Just so," I answered quite coolly, "and, as I have often told you, according to our customs, the harem is always——"
I was trying to think of the right word, when she burst out laughing quite loud.
"What are you laughing at, you silly thing?" I asked.
"I am laughing at all those stories about your harems which you still make up for me just as you used to do for that idiot Hadidjé. I listen to them all, because,—whatever does it matter to me now that I love you! I prefer the happiness of remaining your slave to that of these women, who have no doubt been your mistresses, and whom you don't even condescend to notice when you meet them."
"What?" I exclaimed in astonishment; "have you got to know so much already, you little humbug, and have concealed it from me?"
"After all you have given me to read to form my mind according to your ideas, surely it was natural that I should some day discover the truth! I only waited for an opportunity of confirming my new knowledge," she continued with a smile. "There are still a lot of things in your country which I cannot understand. But you will teach me them now, won't you?" she added in a coaxing tone.
"Oh, you young flirt! It seems to me you know everything already!"
"Why, yes, I feel I know that, for all you may say, I am still no more than a curious toy in your eyes—a strange creature, like some rare bird that you are rather fond of, perhaps, for her pretty plumage."
"Ah! you're right upon the last point at any rate!" I replied with a laugh.