"Fancies! Of course they are fancies. What good do you think it would do me to be tied to a girl like that? Surely half a million should content any man. I wish to be free to pursue my life with you. The sooner indeed I am free from all this business the better."
Madame Estelle looked greatly troubled.
"Are you sure, Boris," she asked again, "that this is absolutely true? Oh! be sure that I dislike to distress you in this way, but I cannot help it."
"My dear Estelle," Boris cried, with a greater show of tenderness than he had yet exhibited, "surely I have been true enough and faithful enough all these years for you to believe me now. Indeed, you must believe in me, because if you don't believe in me and give me your support the cup of happiness which is so near our lips may be dashed away from them.
"Wait!" he went on, "and see whether I am speaking the truth or not."
Nevertheless, Madame was restless and ill at ease.
"If I had seen that girl before to-day," she said, "I should never have entered into this business with you."
"Then you would have been a fool," said Boris, rudely.
"Possibly, but still, even at the risk of your displeasure, there are a few things which I do not care to do."
Boris glanced at her sharply.