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"'What do you mean?'
"'Nothing, only you might get tired of this life. You might, like other men, marry just to have a family.'
"'A family!' I burst out laughing. 'Is that encumbrance so very necessary to a man's happiness?'
"'My love might surfeit you.'
"'Réné, don't speak in that way! Could I live without you?'
"He smiled incredulously.
"'What! do you doubt my love?'
"'Can I doubt that the stars are fire? but,' continued he, slowly, and looking at me, 'do you doubt mine?'
"It seemed to me as if he had grown pale when he put that question to me.
"'No. Have you ever given me the slightest cause to doubt it?'
"'And if I were unfaithful?'
"'Teleny,' said I, feeling faint, 'you have another lover.' And I saw him in the arms of someone else, tasting that bliss which was mine and mine alone.
