Come now, do not be abashed by words,' she added somewhat sharply.

'It is the one thing I despise.

If you are not a fool, you will see that I am building fortresses about your virtue.

And at any rate, I choose that you shall understand that I am not dying of love for you.

It is a very smiling business; no tragedy for me! And now here is what I have to say about your wife; she is not and she never has been Gondremark's mistress.