Mauprat
ing me at Roche-Mauprat that he was her betrothed. Hatred and anger at once surged up within me, and I know not what absurdity I should have committed, had not Edmée, apparently divining the workings of my unruly soul, told him that she wanted to speak to me, and thus restored me to my place by her side.
"What have you to say to me?" I asked with more eagerness than politeness.
"Nothing," she answered in an undertone. "I shall have much to say later. Until then will you do everything I ask of you?"
"And why the devil should I do everything you ask of me, cousin?"
For a moment she hesitated to reply; then, making an effort, she said:
"Because it is thus that a man proves to a woman that he loves her."
"Do you believe that I don't love you?" I replied abruptly.
"How should I know?" she said.
This doubt astonished me very much, and I tried to combat it after my fashion.
"Are you not beautiful?" I said; "and am not I a young man? Perhaps you think I am too much of a boy to notice a woman's beauty; but now that my head is calm, and I am sad and quite serious, I can assure you that I am even more deeply in love with you than I thought. The more I look at you the more beautiful you seem. I did not think that a woman could be so lovely. I tell you I shall not sleep till . . ."
"Hold your tongue," she said sharply.
"Oh, I suppose you are afraid that man will hear me," I answered, pointing to M. de la Marche. "Have
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