First Part Chapter 39

THE BARONNE DE MACUMER TO THE VICOMTESSE DE L'ESTORADE

Your atrocious letter has reached me here, the steward having
forwarded it by my orders. Oh! Renee . . . but I will spare you the
outburst of my wounded feelings, and simply tell you the effect your
letter produced.

We had just returned from a delightful reception given in our honor by
the ambassador, where I appeared in all my glory, and Macumer was
completely carried away in a frenzy of love which I could not
describe.

Then I read him your horrible answer to my letter, and I
read it sobbing, at the risk of making a fright of myself. My dear
Arab fell at my feet, declaring that you raved. Then he carried me off
to the balcony of the palace where we are staying, from which we have
a view over part of the city; there he spoke to me words worthy of the
magnificent moonlight scene which lay stretched before us. We both
speak Italian now, and his love, told in that voluptuous tongue, so
admirably adapted to the expression of passion, sounded in my ears
like the most exquisite poetry.

He swore that, even were you right in
your predictions, he would not exchange for a lifetime a single one of
our blessed nights or charming mornings. At this reckoning he has
already lived a thousand years. He is content to have me for his
mistress, and would claim no other title than that of lover. So proud
and pleased is he to see himself every day the chosen of my heart,
that were Heaven to offer him the alternative between living as you
would have us to for another thirty years with five children, and five
years spent amid the dear roses of our love, he would not hesitate. He
would take my love, such as it is, and death.