"A compliment! You know that I do not like compliments," answered Magdalen, with a look of annoyance.
"I did not intend it as a compliment," said Marcelino.
"When men say things like that it sounds to me as if they were mocking one. There are some men who are always doing it, and it is so annoying. You have never said anything like that to me before."
"I never said a word to you yet that I did not mean. Do you not like to hear the truth spoken to you?"
"Yes, even if it be unpleasant."
"And I like to speak the truth when it is pleasant to do so; when it is not I prefer to keep silent."
"If you never speak anything but the truth to me we shall always be good friends, and I shall know how to interpret your silence."
"Then we are good friends now, for I have never said a word to you that is not true. I am going away, and I do not know when I shall be back. I should be very sorry to go away leaving you angry at anything I had said to you."
"You are going away! Where to?"
"To Rio Janeiro. I arranged it this morning. If the captain of the English frigate which is at Monte Video will give me a passage I am going with Gordon, so I shall not lose him so soon as you will."