"She wouldn't? I have made a mistake. It's Mademoiselle Vigo."
"Oh, no, she wouldn't do, either. There is only one that would do." The boy tried to swallow his tumult of palpitation. "It is Mademoiselle Angélique Saucier, monsieur."
Rice looked reproachfully at him over folded arms.
"That's why I came to you about it, monsieur. In the first place, Odile picked her out because she is handsome; Berenice and Alzira want her because she is good-natured; and I want her because I like to sit in the room where she is."
"Young man, this cannot be," said Rice Jones.
"Have you engaged her yourself, monsieur? If you haven't, please don't. Nobody else will suit us; and you can take Mademoiselle Peggy Morrison that you think is such a fine young woman."
Rice laughed.
"You and I are not the only men in Kaskaskia who admire Mademoiselle Saucier, my lad."
"But you are the worst one," said Pierre eagerly. "Odile thinks if you let her alone we may get her."
"But I can't let her alone. I see the force of your claims, but human nature is so perverse, Pierre, that I want her worse than ever."