"To-morrow," she said.

"No, now."

"What have you to say?"

"You will see."

And I went back into the room.

"You have lost," I said.

"Yes.

"All that you had in the house?"

She hesitated.

"Be frank."

"Well, it is true."

"I have won three hundred louis. Here they are, if you will let me stay
here to-night."

And I threw the gold on the table.

"And why this proposition?"

"Because I am in love with you, of course."

"No, but because you love Marguerite, and you want to have your revenge
upon her by becoming my lover. You don't deceive a woman like me, my
dear friend; unluckily, I am still too young and too good-looking to
accept the part that you offer me."

"So you refuse?"

"Yes.

"Would you rather take me for nothing? It is I who wouldn't accept then.
Think it over, my dear Olympe; if I had sent some one to offer you these
three hundred louis on my behalf, on the conditions I attach to them,
you would have accepted. I preferred to speak to you myself. Accept
without inquiring into my reasons; say to yourself that you are
beautiful, and that there is nothing surprising in my being in love with
you."