“Done,” said the Countess. “I am a man again.”
“I may be wrong,” continued Otto, “but I believe upon my heart you wish me no ill.”
“I wish you so well,” she said, “that I dare not tell it you.”
“Then if I ask my favour?” quoth the Prince.
“Ask it, mon Prince,” she answered. “Whatever it is, it is granted.”
“I wish you,” he returned, “this very night to make the farmer of our talk.”
“Heaven knows your meaning!” she exclaimed. “I know not, neither care; there are no bounds to my desire to please you. Call him made.”
“I will put it in another way,” returned Otto. “Did you ever steal?”
“Often!” cried the Countess. “I have broken all the ten commandments; and if there were more to-morrow, I should not sleep till I had broken these.”
“This is a case of burglary: to say the truth, I thought it would amuse you,” said the Prince.