"And the young man who was with them also looked at you as if he was one
of your friends; why did not you speak to him?"
"For discretion's sake, because you were with me, and he was walking
with them."
"Ah! I understand," she said; "no doubt they are the women of his
harem?"
"Just so," I answered quite coolly, "and, as I have often told you,
according to our customs, the harem is always----"
I was trying to think of the right word, when she burst out laughing
quite loud.
"What are you laughing at, you silly thing?" I asked.
"I am laughing at all those stories about your harems which you still
make up for me just as you used to do for that idiot Hadidjé. I listen
to them all, because,--whatever does it matter to me now that I love
you! I prefer the happiness of remaining your slave to that of these
women, who have no doubt been your mistresses, and whom you don't even
condescend to notice when you meet them."
"What?" I exclaimed in astonishment; "have you got to know so much
already, you little humbug, and have concealed it from me?"
"After all you have given me to read to form my mind according to your
ideas, surely it was natural that I should some day discover the truth!
I only waited for an opportunity of confirming my new knowledge," she
continued with a smile. "There are still a lot of things in your country
which I cannot understand. But you will teach me them now, won't you?"
she added in a coaxing tone.
"Oh, you young flirt! It seems to me you know everything already!"
"Why, yes, I feel I know that, for all you may say, I am still no more
than a curious toy in your eyes--a strange creature, like some rare bird
that you are rather fond of, perhaps, for her pretty plumage."
"Ah! you're right upon the last point at any rate!" I replied with a
laugh.
"Yes, sir!" she continued in a satisfied tone of pride, "I know that I
am handsome!--Now don't laugh at me," she added with a charming
reproachful look; "what I have to say is quite serious, for it comes
from my heart. I was born for a different life, for different sentiments
to yours, and I know that I possess none of those qualities which they
say make the women of your country so attractive. Their ideas and
associations are very different to mine, which you call the
superstitions of a young barbarian, and which I want to forget in order
to learn to understand you and to have no rivals."