Her teeth were still working on her under lip. She made no answer.
"Strelsa—if you really feel nothing for me—if you mean what you have said about a purely business agreement—I will hold to it. I thought for a moment—when you said—something in your smile made me think——"
"You need not think any further," she said.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that I came with you this morning to tell you that I will not marry you."
"That's nonsense! I've hurt you—made you angry——"
"I came for that reason," she repeated. "I meant to do it as soon as I had the courage. I meant to do it gently. Now I don't care how I do it. It's enough for you to know that I will not marry you."
"Is that final?"
"Yes."
"I don't believe it. I know perfectly well I was—was too impulsive, too ardent——"