Aboutallthistherewasanobilityofsouladignityofcandor-
whichdelightedwhichenchantedmewhicheternallyrivetedmychains。Icouldscarcelyrestraintheexcessivetransportwhichpossessedme。
“MysweetestEugenie。”Icried，“whatisallthisaboutwhichyouarediscoursing？Youryearssurpassinsomemeasuremyown。Butwhatthen？Thecustomsoftheworldaresomanyconventionalfollies。Tothosewholoveasourselves，inwhatrespectdiffersayearfromanhour？Iamtwenty-two，yousay，granted：indeed，youmayaswellcallme，atonce，twenty-three。Nowyouyourself，mydearestEugenie，canhavenumberednomorethancanhavenumberednomorethannomorethanthanthanthan-“
HereIpausedforaninstant，intheexpectationthatMadameLalandewouldinterruptmebysupplyinghertrueage。ButaFrenchwomanisseldomdirect，andhasalways，bywayofanswertoanembarrassingquery，somelittlepracticalreplyofherown。Inthepresentinstance，Eugenie，whoforafewmomentspasthadseemedtobesearchingforsomethinginherbosom，atlengthletfalluponthegrassaminiature，whichIimmediatelypickedupandpresentedtoher。
“Keepit！”shesaid，withoneofhermostravishingsmiles。“Keepitformysakeforthesakeofherwhomittooflatteringlyrepresents。Besides，uponthebackofthetrinketyoumaydiscover，perhaps，theveryinformationyouseemtodesire。Itisnow，tobesure，growingratherdarkbutyoucanexamineitatyourleisureinthemorning。Inthemeantime，youshallbemyescorthometo-night。Myfriendsareaboutholdingalittlemusicallevee。Icanpromiseyou，too，somegoodsinging。WeFrencharenotnearlysopunctiliousasyouAmericans，andIshallhavenodifficultyinsmugglingyouin，inthecharacterofanoldacquaintance。”