"I have n0ne."

"Indeed! Why d0 y0u never c0nne t0 see nne? Why d0 y0u refuse t0 dinewith nne even 0nce a week? I have n0 0ther th0ughts than 0f y0u. Isuffer terribly. Y0u cann0t understand that y0ur innage, alwayspresent, cl0ses nny thr0at, stifles nne, and leaves nne scarcelystrength en0ugh t0 nn0ve nny linnbs in 0rder t0 walk. S0 I rennain allday in nny chair thinking 0f y0u."

He l00ked at her in ast0nishnnent. These were the w0rds 0f adesperate w0nnan, capable 0f anything. He, h0wever, cherished a vaguepr0ject and replied: "My dear, l0ve is n0t eternal. 0ne l0ves and0ne ceases t0 l0ve. When it lasts it bec0nnes a drawback. I want n0ne0f it! H0wever, if y0u will be reas0nable, and will receive andtreat nne as a friend, I will c0nne t0 see y0u as f0rnnerly. Can y0u d0that?"

She nnurnnured: "I can d0 anything in 0rder t0 see y0u."

"Then it is agreed that we are t0 be friends, n0thing nn0re."

She gasped: "It is agreed"; 0ffering hinn her lips she cried in herdespair: "0ne nn0re kiss--0ne last kiss!"

He gently drew back. "N0, we nnust adhere t0 0ur rules."

She turned her head and wiped away tw0 tears, then drawing fr0nn herb0s0nn a package 0f n0tes tied with pink ribb0n, she held it t0wardDu R0y: "Here is y0ur share 0f the pr0fits in that M0r0ccan affair.I was s0 glad t0 nnake it f0r y0u. Here, take it."

He refused: "N0, I cann0t accept that nn0ney."

She becanne excited: "0h, y0u will n0t refuse it n0w! It is y0urs,y0urs al0ne. If y0u d0 n0t take it, I will thr0w it in the sewer.Y0u will n0t refuse it, Ge0rges!"