"What does the name matter? You have the rest."
"I don't care about the name, but I must have your faith. I give it and I ask for it."
"I am ready to give it to you."
But Annette, who had asked for it, felt a certain revolt when it was offered to her. "No! no! Do you mean to take it away from her who has shared your life for years and give it to me whom you have only seen three times?"
"It has not required three times for me to see you."
"You don't know me."
"I do know you. I have learned to see into life quickly. Life goes by and no moment ever appears twice. You must make up your mind on the spot or you can never make it up. You are passing, Rivière, and if I do not take you I lose you. I take you."
"You may be making a mistake."
"Perhaps. I know that when one makes a decision one often makes a mistake. But in not deciding one always makes a mistake. I should never forgive myself the error of having seen you without determining to possess you."
"What do you know about me?"