I looked at her in silence, and saw her face, that had for a moment shown signs of feeling, almost of shame, grow slowly hard again.
'Well, sir ?' she said impatiently.

'The proof is easy.' 'It was taken from me; I believe, by M.de Rosny,' I answered lamely, wondering what ill-luck had led her to put the question and press it to this point.
'It was taken from you!' she exclaimed, rising and confronting me with the utmost suddenness, while her eyes flashed, and her little hand crumpled the mask beyond future usefulness.

'It was taken from you, sir!' she repeated, her voice and her whole frame trembling with anger and disdain.

'Then I thank you, I prefer my version.

Yours is impossible.