I cannot choose.

Let us put it to chance--but I make one condition." "What is it ?" "Whichever one of you becomes my brother must stay with me until I suffer him to leave me.

I wish to be sole judge of when to part." "Yes, yes," said the brothers, without explaining to themselves her meaning.
"The first of you to whom Madame d'Hauteserre speaks to-night at table after the Benedicite, shall be my husband.

But neither of you must practise fraud or induce her to answer a question." "We will play fair," said the younger, smiling.
Each kissed her hand.

The certainty of some decision which both could fancy favorable made them gay.
"Either way, dear Laurence, you create a Comte de Cinq-Cygne--" "I believe," thought Michu, riding behind them, "that mademoiselle will not long be unmarried.