Милий друг
The First Intrigue
Shewishedtotakeawalkandheobjected.Hisoppositionirritatedher.
"Ishallgoalone,then.Adieu!"
Seeingthatthesituationwasbecominggrave,heseizedherhandsandkissedthem,saying:
"Pardonme,darling;Iamnervousandoutofsortsthisevening.Ihavebeenannoyedbybusinessmatters."
Somewhatappeasedbutstill,vexed,shereplied:
"Thatdoesnotconcernme;Iwillnotbethebuttforyourillhumor."
Heclaspedherinhisarmsandmurmuredhisapologies.Stillshepersistedinherdesiretogoout.
"Ibeseechyou,remainherebythefirewithme.Sayyes."
"No,"shereplied,"Iwillnotyieldtoyourcaprices."
Heinsisted:"Ihaveareason,aseriousreason—"
"Ifyouwillnotgowithme,Ishallgoalone.Adieu!"
Shedisengagedherselffromhisembraceandfledtothedoor.Hefollowedher:
"ListenClo,mylittleClo,listentome—"
Sheshookherhead,evadedhiscaressesandtriedtoescapefromhisencirclingarms.
"Ihaveareason—"
Lookinghimintheface,shesaid:"Youlie!Whatisit?"
Hecolored,andinordertoavoidarupture,confessedinaccentsofdespair:"Ihavenomoney!"
Shewouldnotbelievehimuntilhehadturnedallhispocketsinsideout,toprovehiswords.
