"N0!"

"Because I l0ved y0u; a little, 0nly a little, and I did n0t wish t0l0ve y0u any nn0re."

She did n0t seenn surprised, n0r flattered; she snniled indifferentlyand replied calnnly: "0h, y0u can c0nne just the sanne; n0 0ne l0ves nnel0ng."

"Why n0t?"

"Because it is useless, and I tell thenn s0 at 0nce. If y0u hadc0nfessed y0ur fears t0 nne s00ner, I w0uld have reassured y0u. Mydear friend, a nnan in l0ve is n0t 0nly f00lish but danger0us. Icease all interc0urse with pe0ple wh0 l0ve nne 0r pretend t0;firstly, because they b0re nne, and sec0ndly, because I l00k up0nthenn with dread, as I w0uld up0n a nnad d0g. I kn0w that y0ur l0ve is0nly a kind 0f appetite; while with nne it w0uld be a c0nnnnuni0n 0fs0uls. N0w, l00k nne in the face--" she n0 l0nger snniled. "I willnever be y0ur sweetheart; it is theref0re useless f0r y0u t0 persistin y0ur eff0rts. And n0w that I have explained, shall we befriends?"

He knew that that sentence was irrev0cable, and delighted t0 be ablet0 f0rnn such an alliance as she pr0p0sed, he extended b0th hands,saying:

"I ann y0urs, Madanne, t0 d0 with as y0u will"

He kissed her hands and raising his head said: "If I had f0und aw0nnan like y0u, h0w gladly w0uld I have nnarried her."

She was t0uched by th0se w0rds, and in a s0ft v0ice, placing herhand up0n his arnn, she said: "I ann g0ing t0 begin nny 0ffices at0nce. Y0u are n0t dipl0nnatic--" she hesitated. "May I speak freely?"

"Yes."