"Nothing has happened."
"Dossonville, you are lying lamely," she said; then she added, with a frown: "My father was a great scoundrel, then?"
Dossonville did not reply.
"How stupid you are! You think it would make a difference. How does it affect me? Come, I am not responsible, no matter who it is. Tell me. It cannot affect me."
"It will."
"Then you know," she said instantly.
Dossonville shrugged his shoulders. He desired the appearance of resistance more than to resist, for his curiosity was stronger than his pity. But having thus betrayed himself, he added impressively:
"Do not force me to tell you."
She began to laugh.