"Well, perhaps, when——"
"Go on."
"When we are married."
The young girl burst out laughing. It was a clear, silvery, spontaneous, merry laugh; but still, for a moment, it jarred upon Milenko's nerves. He looked rather downcast, for he was far from thinking the matter to be a joke.
"Why do you laugh?" said he, ruefully.
"Because, probably, I shall never know your friend's secret."
The poor fellow's brown complexion grew livid, the muscles of his heart contracted with a spasm, he gasped for breath; the pang he felt was so strong that he could hardly speak; still, he managed to falter:
"Why, are you, perhaps, already engaged to be married?"
"I?" said she, with another laugh. "No."
"Nor in love with anyone?"