"YoucannottellmewhetherwithinaweekorsoabooksellerfromMilanhascomewithhiswife——namedLamporani，oneoftheleadersofthelastrevolution？"
　　"IcouldeasilyfindoutbygoingtotheForeigners'Club，"saidthejeweler。
　　Rodolphe'sfirstwalkwasverynaturallytotheVillaDiodati，theresidenceofLordByron，whoserecentdeathaddedtoitsattractiveness:forisnotdeaththeconsecrationofgenius？
　　TheroadtoEaux-Vivesfollowstheshoreofthelake，and，likealltheroadsinSwitzerland，isverynarrow；insomespots，inconsequenceoftheconfigurationofthehillyground，thereisscarcelyspacefortwocarriagestopasseachother。
　　AtafewyardsfromtheJeanrenauds'house，whichhewasapproachingwithoutknowingit，Rodolpheheardthesoundofacarriagebehindhim，and，findinghimselfinasunkroad，heclimbedtothetopofarocktoleavetheroadfree。Ofcoursehelookedattheapproachingcarriage——anelegantEnglishphaeton，withasplendidpairofEnglishhorses。HefeltquitedizzyashebeheldinthiscarriageFrancesca，beautifullydressed，bythesideofanoldladyashardasacameo。A
　　servantblazingwithgoldlacestoodbehind。FrancescarecognizedRodolphe，andsmiledatseeinghimlikeastatueonapedestal。Thecarriage，whichtheloverfollowedwithhiseyesasheclimbedthehill，turnedinatthegateofacountryhouse，towardswhichheran。
　　"Wholiveshere？"heaskedthegardener。
　　"PrinceandPrincessColonna，andPrinceandPrincessGandolphini。"
　　"Havetheynotjustdrivenin？"
　　"Yes，sir。"
　　InthatinstantaveilfellfromRodolphe'seyes；hesawclearlythemeaningofthepast。
　　"Ifonlythisisherlastpieceoftrickery!"thoughtthethunder-
　　strucklovertohimself。
　　Hetrembledlestheshouldhavebeentheplaythingofawhim，forhehadheardwhata/capriccio/mightmeaninanItalian。Butwhatacrimehadhecommittedintheeyesofawoman——inacceptingabornprincessasacitizen'swife!inbelievingthatadaughterofoneofthemostillustrioushousesoftheMiddleAgeswasthewifeofabookseller!TheconsciousnessofhisblundersincreasedRodolphe'sdesiretoknowwhetherhewouldbeignoredandrepelled。HeaskedforPrinceGandolphini，sendinginhiscard，andwasimmediatelyreceivedbythefalseLamparini，whocameforwardtomeethim，welcomedhimwiththebestpossiblegrace，andtookhimtowalkonaterracewhencetherewasaviewofGeneva，theJura，thehillscoveredwithvillas，andbelowthemawideexpanseofthelake。
　　"Mywifeisfaithfultothelakes，yousee，"heremarked，afterpointingoutthedetailstohisvisitor。"Wehaveasortofconcertthisevening，"headded，astheyreturnedtothesplendidVillaJeanrenaud。"IhopeyouwilldomeandthePrincessthepleasureofseeingyou。Twomonthsofpovertyenduredinintimacyareequaltoyearsoffriendship。"
　　Thoughhewasconsumedbycuriosity，RodolphedarednotasktoseethePrincess；heslowlymadehiswaybacktoEaux-Vives，lookingforwardtotheevening。Inafewhourshispassion，greatasithadalreadybeen，wasaugmentedbyhisanxietyandbysuspenseastofutureevents。Henowunderstoodthenecessityformakinghimselffamous，thathemightsomedayfindhimself，sociallyspeaking，onalevelwithhisidol。InhiseyesFrancescawasmadereallygreatbythesimplicityandeaseofherconductatGersau。PrincessColonna'shaughtiness，soevidentlynaturaltoher，alarmedRodolphe，whowouldfindenemiesinFrancesca'sfatherandmother——atleastsohemightexpect；andthesecrecywhichPrincessGandolphinihadsostrictlyenjoinedonhimnowstruckhimasawonderfulproofofaffection。Bynotchoosingtocompromisethefuture，hadshenotconfessedthatshelovedhim？
　　Atlastnineo'clockstruck；Rodolphecouldgetintoacarriageandsaywithanemotionthatisveryintelligible，"TotheVillaJeanrenaud——toPrinceGandolphini's。"
　　AtlasthesawFrancesca，butwithoutbeingseenbyher。ThePrincesswasstandingquitenearthepiano。Herbeautifulhair，sothickandlong，wasboundwithagoldenfillet。Herface，inthelightofwaxcandles，hadthebrilliantpallorpeculiartoItalians，andwhichlooksitsbestonlybyartificiallight。Shewasinfulleveningdress，showingherfascinatingshoulders，thefigureofagirlandthearmsofanantiquestatue。Hersublimebeautywasbeyondallpossiblerivalry，thoughthereweresomecharmingwomenofGeneva，andotherItalians，amongthemthedazzlingandillustriousPrincessVarese，andthefamoussingerTinti，whowasatthatmomentsinging。
　　Rodolphe，leaningagainstthedoor-post，lookedatthePrincess，turningonherthefixed，tenacious，attractinggaze，chargedwiththefull，insistentwillwhichisconcentratedinthefeelingcalleddesire，andthusassumesthenatureofavehementcommand。DidtheflameofthatgazereachFrancesca？WasFrancescaexpectingeachinstanttoseeRodolphe？Inafewminutesshestoleaglanceatthedoor，asthoughmagnetizedbythiscurrentoflove，andhereyes，withoutreserve，lookeddeepintoRodolphe's。Aslightthrillquiveredthroughthatsuperbfaceandbeautifulbody；theshocktoherspiritreacted:Francescablushed!Rodolphefeltawholelifeinthisexchangeoflooks，soswiftthatitcanonlybecomparedtoalightningflash。Buttowhatcouldhishappinesscompare？Hewasloved。TheloftyPrincess，inthemidstofherworld，inthishandsomevilla，keptthepledgegivenbythedisguisedexile，thecapriciousbeautyofBergmanns'lodgings。Theintoxicationofsuchamomentenslavesamanforlife!Afaintsmile，refinedandsubtle，candidandtriumphant，curledPrincessGandolphini'slips，andatamomentwhenshedidnotfeelherselfobservedshelookedatRodolphewithanexpressionwhichseemedtoaskhispardonforhavingdeceivedhimastoherrank。
　　WhenthesongwasendedRodolphecouldmakehiswaytothePrince，whograciouslyledhimtohiswife。RodolphewentthroughtheceremonialofaformalintroductiontoPrincessandPrinceColonna，andtoFrancesca。Whenthiswasover，thePrincesshadtotakepartinthefamousquartette，/Mimancalavoce/，whichwassungbyherwithTinti，withthefamoustenorGenovese，andwithawell-knownItalianPrincetheninexile，whosevoice，ifhehadnotbeenaPrince，wouldhavemadehimoneofthePrincesofArt。
　　"Takethatseat，"saidFrancescatoRodolphe，pointingtoherownchair。"/Oime/!Ithinkthereissomemistakeinmyname；IhaveforthelastminutebeenPrincessRodolphini。"
　　Itwassaidwiththeartlessgracewhichrevived，inthisavowalhiddenbeneathajest，thehappydaysatGersau。Rodolphereveledintheexquisitesensationoflisteningtothevoiceofthewomanheadored，whilesittingsoclosetoherthatonecheekwasalmosttouchedbythestuffofherdressandthegauzeofherscarf。Butwhen，atsuchamoment，/Mimancalavoce/isbeingsung，andbythefinestvoicesinItaly，itiseasytounderstandwhatitwasthatbroughtthetearstoRodolphe'seyes。
　　Inlove，asperhapsinallelse，therearecertaincircumstances，trivialinthemselves，buttheoutcomeofathousandlittlepreviousincidents，ofwhichtheimportanceisimmense，asanepitomeofthepastandasalinkwiththefuture。Ahundredtimesalreadywehavefeltthepreciousnessoftheonewelove；butatrifle——theperfecttouchoftwosoulsunitedduringawalkperhapsbyasingleword，bysomeunlooked-forproofofaffection，willcarrythefeelingtoitssupremestpitch。Inshort，toexpressthistruthbyanimagewhichhasbeenpre-eminentlysuccessfulfromtheearliestagesoftheworld，thereareinalongchainpointsofattachmentneededwherethecohesionisstrongerthanintheintermediateloopsofrings。ThisrecognitionbetweenRodolpheandFrancesca，atthisparty，inthefaceoftheworld，wasoneofthoseintensemomentswhichjointhefuturetothepast，andrivetarealattachmentmoredeeplyintheheart。ItwasperhapsoftheseincidentalrivetsthatBossuetspokewhenhecomparedtothemtherarityofhappymomentsinourlives——hewhohadsuchalivingandsecretexperienceoflove。
　　Nexttothepleasureofadmiringthewomanwelove，comesthatofseeingheradmiredbyeveryoneelse。Rodolphewasenjoyingbothatonce。Loveisatreasuryofmemories，andthoughRodolphe'swasalreadyfull，headdedtoitpearlsofgreatprice；smilesshedasideforhimalone，stolenglances，tonesinhersingingwhichFrancescaaddressedtohimalone，butwhichmadeTintipalewithjealousy，theyweresomuchapplauded。Allhisstrengthofdesire，thespecialexpressionofhissoul，wasthrownoverthebeautifulRoman，whobecameunchangeablythebeginningandtheendofallhisthoughtsandactions。Rodolphelovedaseverywomanmaydreamofbeingloved，withaforce，aconstancy，atenacity，whichmadeFrancescatheverysubstanceofhisheart；hefeltherminglingwithhisbloodaspurerblood，withhissoulasamoreperfectsoul；shewouldhenceforthunderlietheleasteffortsofhislifeasthegoldensandoftheMediterraneanliesbeneaththewaves。Inshort，Rodolphe'slightestaspirationwasnowalivinghope。
　　Attheendofafewdays，Francescaunderstoodthisboundlesslove；
　　butitwassonatural，andsoperfectlysharedbyher，thatitdidnotsurpriseher。Shewasworthyofit。
　　"Whatistherethatisstrange？"saidshetoRodolphe，astheywalkedonthegardenterrace，whenhehadbeenbetrayedintooneofthoseoutburstsofconceitwhichcomesonaturallytoFrenchmenintheexpressionoftheirfeelings——"whatisextraordinaryinthefactofyourlovingayoungandbeautifulwoman，artistenoughtobeabletoearnherlivinglikeTinti，andofgivingyousomeofthepleasuresofvanity？WhatloutbutwouldthenbecomeanAmadis？Thisisnotinquestionbetweenyouandme。Whatisneededisthatwebothlovefaithfully，persistently；atadistancefromeachotherforyears，withnosatisfactionbutthatofknowingthatweareloved。"
　　"Alas!"saidRodolphe，"willyounotconsidermyfidelityasdevoidofallmeritwhenyouseemeabsorbedintheeffortsofdevouringambition？DoyouimaginethatIcanwishtoseeyouonedayexchangethefinenameofGandolphiniforthatofamanwhoisanobody？Iwanttobecomeoneofthemostremarkablemenofmycountry，toberich，great——thatyoumaybeasproudofmynameasofyourownnameofColonna。"
　　"Ishouldbegrievedtoseeyouwithoutsuchsentimentsinyourheart，"shereplied，withabewitchingsmile。"Butdonotwearyourselfouttoosooninyourambitiouslabors。Remainyoung。Theysaythatpoliticssoonmakeamanold。"
　　Oneoftherarestgiftsinwomenisacertaingaietywhichdoesnotdetractfromtenderness。ThiscombinationofdeepfeelingwiththelightnessofyouthaddedanenchantinggraceatthismomenttoFrancesca'scharms。Thisisthekeytohercharacter；shelaughsandsheistouched；shebecomesenthusiastic，andreturnstoarchraillerywithareadiness，afacility，whichmakesherthecharmingandexquisitecreaturesheis，andforwhichherreputationisknownoutsideItaly。Underthegracesofawomansheconcealsvastlearning，thankstotheexcessivelymonotonousandalmostmonasticlifesheledinthecastleoftheoldColonnas。
　　Thisrichheiresswasatfirstintendedforthecloister，beingthefourthchildofPrinceandPrincessColonna；butthedeathofhertwobrothers，andofhereldersister，suddenlybroughtheroutofherretirement，andmadeheroneofthemostbrilliantmatchesinthePapalStates。HereldersisterhadbeenbetrothedtoPrinceGandolphini，oneoftherichestlandownersinSicily；andFrancescawasmarriedtohiminstead，sothatnothingmightbechangedinthepositionofthefamily。TheColonnasandGandolphinishadalwaysintermarried。
　　Fromtheageofninetillshewassixteen，Francesca，underthedirectionofaCardinalofthefamily，hadreadallthroughthelibraryoftheColonnas，tomakeweightagainstherardentimaginationbystudyingscience，art，andletters。Butinthesestudiessheacquiredthetasteforindependenceandliberalideas，whichthrewher，withherhusband，intotheranksoftherevolution。Rodolphehadnotyetlearnedthat，besidesfivelivinglanguages，FrancescaknewGreek，Latin，andHebrew。Thecharmingcreatureperfectlyunderstoodthat，forawoman，thefirstconditionofbeinglearnedistokeepitdeeplyhidden。
　　RodolphespentthewholewinteratGeneva。Thiswinterpassedlikeaday。Whenspringreturned，notwithstandingtheinfinitedelightsofthesocietyofacleverwoman，wonderfullywellinformed，youngandlovely，theloverwentthroughcruelsufferings，enduredindeedwithcourage，butwhichweresometimeslegibleinhiscountenance，andbetrayedthemselvesinhismannersorspeech，perhapsbecausehebelievedthatFrancescasharedthem。Nowandagainitannoyedhimtoadmirehercalmness。LikeanEnglishwoman，sheseemedtoprideherselfonexpressingnothinginherface；itsserenitydefiedlove；helongedtoseeheragitated；heaccusedherofhavingnofeeling，forhebelievedinthetraditionwhichascribestoItalianwomenafeverishexcitability。
　　"IamaRoman!"FrancescagravelyrepliedonedaywhenshetookquiteseriouslysomebanteronthissubjectfromRodolphe。
　　Therewasadepthoftoneinherreplywhichgaveittheappearanceofscathingirony，andwhichsetRodolphe'spulsesthrobbing。ThemonthofMayspreadbeforethemthetreasuresofherfreshverdure；thesunwassometimesaspowerfulasatmidsummer。Thetwolovershappenedtobeatapartoftheterracewheretherockarisesabruptlyfromthelake，andwereleaningoverthestoneparapetthatcrownsthewallaboveaflightofstepsleadingdowntoalanding-stage。Fromtheneighboringvilla，wherethereisasimilarstairway，aboatpresentlyshotoutlikeaswan，itsflagflaming，itscrimsonawningspreadoveralovelywomancomfortablyrecliningonredcushions，herhairwreathedwithrealflowers；theboatmanwasayoungmandressedlikeasailor，androwingwithallthemoregracebecausehewasunderthelady'seye。
　　"Theyarehappy!"exclaimedRodolphe，withbitteremphasis。"ClairedeBourgogne，thelastsurvivoroftheonlyhousewhichcaneverviewiththeroyalfamilyofFrance——"
　　"Oh!ofabastardbranch，andthatafemaleline。"
　　"Atanyrate，sheisVicomtessedeBeauseant；andshedidnot——"
　　"Didnothesitate，youwouldsay，toburyherselfherewithMonsieurGastondeNueil，youwouldsay，"repliedthedaughteroftheColonnas。
　　"SheisonlyaFrenchwoman；IamanItalian，mydearsir!"
　　Francescaturnedawayfromtheparapet，leavingRodolphe，andwenttothefurtherendoftheterrace，whencethereisawideprospectofthelake。Watchingherassheslowlywalkedaway，Rodolphesuspectedthathehadwoundedhersoul，atoncesosimpleandsowise，soproudandsohumble。Itturnedhimcold；hefollowedFrancesca，whosignedtohimtoleavehertoherself。Buthedidnotheedthewarning，anddetectedherwipingawayhertears。Tears!insostronganature。
　　"Francesca，"saidhe，takingherhand，"isthereasingleregretinyourheart？"
　　Shewassilent，disengagedherhandwhichheldherembroideredhandkerchief，andagaindriedhereyes。
　　"Forgiveme!"hesaid。Andwitharush，hekissedhereyestowipeawaythetears。
　　Francescadidnotseemawareofhispassionateimpulse，shewassoviolentlyagitated。Rodolphe，thinkingsheconsented，grewbolder；heputhisarmroundher，claspedhertohisheart，andsnatchedakiss。
　　Butshefreedherselfbyadignifiedmovementofoffendedmodesty，and，standingayardoff，shelookedathimwithoutanger，butwithfirmdetermination。
　　"Gothisevening，"shesaid。"WemeetnomoretillwemeetatNaples。"
　　Thisorderwasstern，butitwasobeyed，foritwasFrancesca'swill。
　　OnhisreturntoParisRodolphefoundinhisroomsaportraitofPrincessGandolphinipaintedbySchinner，asSchinnercanpaint。TheartisthadpassedthroughGenevaonhiswaytoItaly。Ashehadpositivelyrefusedtopainttheportraitsofseveralwomen，RodolphedidnotbelievethatthePrince，anxiousashewasforaportraitofhiswife，wouldbeabletoconquerthegreatpainter'sobjections；butFrancesca，nodoubt，hadbewitchedhim，andobtainedfromhim——whichwasalmostamiracle——anoriginalportraitforRodolphe，andaduplicateforEmilio。Shetoldhimthisinacharminganddelightfulletter，inwhichthemindindemnifieditselfforthereserverequiredbytheworshipoftheproprieties。Theloverreplied。Thusbegan，nevertocease，aregularcorrespondencebetweenRodolpheandFrancesca，theonlyindulgencetheyallowedthemselves。
　　Rodolphe，possessedbyanambitionsanctifiedbyhislove，settowork。Firsthelongedtomakehisfortune，andriskedhisallinanundertakingtowhichhedevotedallhisfacultiesaswellashiscapital；buthe，aninexperiencedyouth，hadtocontendagainstduplicity，whichwontheday。Thusthreeyearswerelostinavastenterprise，threeyearsofstrugglingandcourage。
　　TheVilleleministryfelljustwhenRodolphewasruined。Thevaliantloverthoughthewouldseekinpoliticswhatcommercialindustryhadrefusedhim；butbeforebravingthestormsofthiscareer，hewent，allwoundedandsickatheart，tohavehisbruiseshealedandhiscouragerevivedatNaples，wherethePrinceandPrincesshadbeenreinstatedintheirplaceandrightsontheKing'saccession。This，inthemidstofhiswarfare，wasarespitefullofdelights；hespentthreemonthsattheVillaGandolphini，rockedinhope。
　　Rodolphethenbeganagaintoconstructhisfortune。Histalentswerealreadyknown；hewasabouttoattainthedesiresofhisambition；ahighpositionwaspromisedhimastherewardofhiszeal，hisdevotion，andhispastservices，whenthestormofJuly1830broke，andagainhisbarkwasswamped。
　　She，andGod!Thesearetheonlywitnessesofthebraveefforts，thedaringattemptsofayoungmangiftedwithfinequalities，buttowhom，sofar，theprotectionofluck——thegodoffools——hasbeendenied。Andthisindefatigablewrestler，upheldbylove，comesbacktofreshstruggles，lightedonhiswaybyanalwaysfriendlyeye，aneverfaithfulheart。
　　Lovers!Prayforhim!
　　*****
　　Asshefinishedthisnarrative，MademoiselledeWatteville'scheekswereonfire；therewasafeverinherblood。Shewascrying——butwithrage。Thislittlenovel，inspiredbytheliterarystyletheninfashion，wasthefirstreadingofthekindthatRosaliehadeverhadthechanceofdevouring。Lovewasdepictedinit，ifnotbyamaster-
　　hand，atanyratebyamanwhoseemedtogivehisownimpressions；andtruth，evenifunskilled，couldnotfailtotouchavirginsoul。HerelaythesecretofRosalie'sterribleagitation，ofherfeverandhertears；shewasjealousofFrancescaColonna。
　　Sheneverforaninstantdoubtedthesincerityofthispoeticalflight；Alberthadtakenpleasureintellingthestoryofhispassion，whilechangingthenamesofpersonsandperhapsofplaces。Rosaliewaspossessedbyinfernalcuriosity。Whatwomanbutwould，likeher，havewantedtoknowherrival'sname——forshetooloved!Asshereadthesepages，toherreallycontagious，shehadsaidsolemnlytoherself，"I
　　lovehim!"——ShelovedAlbert，andfeltinherheartagnawingdesiretofightforhim，tosnatchhimfromthisunknownrival。Shereflectedthatsheknewnothingofmusic，andthatshewasnotbeautiful。
　　"Hewillneverloveme!"thoughtshe。
　　Thisconclusionaggravatedheranxietytoknowwhethershemightnotbemistaken，whetherAlbertreallylovedanItalianPrincess，andwaslovedbyher。Inthecourseofthisfatefulnight，thepowerofswiftdecision，whichhadcharacterizedthefamousWatteville，wasfullydevelopedinhisdescendant。Shedevisedthosewhimsicalschemes，roundwhichhoverstheimaginationofmostyounggirlswhen，inthesolitudetowhichsomeinjudiciousmothersconfinethem，theyarerousedbysometremendouseventwhichthesystemofrepressiontowhichtheyaresubjectedcouldneitherforeseenorprevent。ShedreamedofdescendingbyaladderfromthekioskintothegardenofthehouseoccupiedbyAlbert；oftakingadvantageofthelawyer'sbeingasleeptolookthroughthewindowintohisprivateroom。Shethoughtofwritingtohim，orofburstingthefettersofBesanconsocietybyintroducingAlberttothedrawing-roomoftheHoteldeRupt。Thisenterprise，whichtotheAbbedeGranceyevenwouldhaveseemedtheclimaxoftheimpossible，wasamerepassingthought。
　　"Ah!"saidshetoherself，"myfatherhasadisputependingastohislandatlesRouxey。Iwillgothere!Ifthereisnolawsuit，Iwillmanagetomakeone，and/he/shallcomeintoourdrawing-room!"shecried，asshesprangoutofbedandtothewindowtolookatthefascinatinggleamwhichshonethroughAlbert'snights。Theclockstruckone；hewasstillasleep。
　　"Ishallseehimwhenhegetsup；perhapshewillcometohiswindow。"
　　AtthisinstantMademoiselledeWattevillewaswitnesstoanincidentwhichpromisedtoplaceinherpowerthemeansofknowingAlbert'ssecrets。BythelightofthemoonshesawapairofarmsstretchedoutfromthekiosktohelpJerome，Albert'sservant，togetacrossthecopingofthewallandstepintothelittlebuilding。InJerome'saccompliceRosalieatoncerecognizedMariettethelady's-maid。
　　"MarietteandJerome!"saidshetoherself。"Mariette，suchanuglygirl!Certainlytheymustbeashamedofthemselves。"
　　ThoughMariettewashorriblyuglyandsix-and-thirty，shehadinheritedseveralplotsofland。ShehadbeenseventeenyearswithMadamedeWatteville，whovaluedherhighlyforherbigotry，herhonesty，andlongservice，andshehadnodoubtsavedmoneyandinvestedherwagesandperquisites。Hence，earningabouttenlouisayear，sheprobablyhadbythistime，includingcompoundinterestandherlittleinheritance，notlessthantenthousandfrancs。
　　InJerome'seyestenthousandfrancscouldalterthelawsofoptics；
　　hesawinMarietteaneatfigure；hedidnotperceivethepitsandseamswhichvirulentsmallpoxhadleftonherflat，parchedface；tohimthecrookedmouthwasstraight；andeversinceSavaron，bytakinghimintohisservice，hadbroughthimsoneartotheWattevilles'
　　house，hehadlaidsiegesystematicallytothemaid，whowasasprimandsanctimoniousashermistress，andwho，likeeveryuglyoldmaid，wasfarmoreexactingthanthehandsomest。
　　Ifthenight-sceneinthekioskisthusfullyaccountedfortoallperspicaciousreaders，itwasnotsotoRosalie，thoughshederivedfromitthemostdangerouslessonthatcanbegiven，thatofabadexample。Amotherbringsherdaughterupstrictly，keepsherunderherwingforseventeenyears，andthen，inonehour，aservantgirldestroysthelongandpainfulwork，sometimesbyaword，oftenindeedbyagesture!Rosaliegotintobedagain，notwithoutconsideringhowshemighttakeadvantageofherdiscovery。
　　Nextmorning，asshewenttoMassaccompaniedbyMariette——hermotherwasnotwell——Rosalietookthemaid'sarm，whichsurprisedthecountrywenchnotalittle。
　　"Mariette，"saidshe，"isJeromeinhismaster'sconfidence？"
　　"Idonotknow，mademoiselle。"
　　"Donotplaytheinnocentwithme，"saidMademoiselledeWattevilledrily。"Youlethimkissyoulastnightunderthekiosk；Inolongerwonderthatyousowarmlyapprovedofmymother'sideasfortheimprovementssheplanned。"
　　RosaliecouldfeelhowMariettewastremblingbytheshakingofherarm。
　　"Iwishyounoill，"Rosaliewenton。"Bequiteeasy；Ishallnotsayawordtomymother，andyoucanmeetJeromeasoftenasyouplease。"
　　"But，mademoiselle，"saidMariette，"itisperfectlyrespectable；
　　Jeromehonestlymeanstomarryme——"
　　"Butthen，"saidRosalie，"whymeetatnight？"
　　Mariettewasdumfounded，andcouldmakenoreply。
　　"Listen，Mariette；Iaminlovetoo!Insecretandwithoutanyreturn。