"I'll tell you presently. But I must go a little farther back first. Have you the time to listen to my story?"
"Of course I have: I remain at home all day."
"Will nobody interrupt us?"
"My servant is a very sensible fellow, he knows the rules of the place."
"But won't they lock the door of the prison behind me?"
An ordinary person would have replied to this question that it would have been no great harm if they did; but I pulled out the drawer of my writing-table and showed the fair lady that I had my own key for opening my prison door. At this she laughed and seemed quite satisfied.
"Well, I'll begin by telling you how I made his acquaintance."
"What, your Ezzy?"
"I beg your pardon, but you must always pronounce the name in full, or you will aggravate its owner. He is very particular about giving to every one his full name and corresponding titles; never breaks that rule himself, and constantly addresses me as 'Worthy dame Captain!' It is in vain to call me 'Madame' in his presence, for he roundly maintains that such a title belongs to the consort of the Prince of Transylvania only. His motto is 'suum cuique.' Oh, I've learnt such a lot of Latin since I made his acquaintance?"
"Oh, then you have been taking Latin lessons from him, and so the acquaintance began?"