It was impossible; she was not well.

If he loved her at all he would not insist! Nevertheless, he was obstinate; he refused to go away, and she was beginning to give in when she met Satin's eyes once more.

Then she grew inflexible.

No, the thing was out of the question! The count, deeply moved and with a look of suffering, had risen and was going in quest of his hat.

But in the doorway he remembered the set of sapphires; he could feel the case in his pocket.