"Ah, my soul!" cried she. "Do you think so highly of it as to suppose it will survive this marriage, or so lightly as not to care? My soul, poor child, is in the case with your lovely body. It is the tied bird of all these fowlers."
"Alas, alas! But I cannot understand," Molly wailed; but the other caught her the closer.
"That you do not understand, Carina, is your salvation. It proves you immortal. Now go. No! kiss me, kiss me!"
They were parted at last; and though they did meet again, they kissed no more.
VIII
PRIVATE TREATY
To a most elaborately penned invitation the Borgia responded by half a dozen words scrawled by his secretary. He would be in the March at such and such a time, and would spend such and such a day in Nona.
He had heard from Amilcare; he replied to Molly. The insult was glaring, even to her.