As you say, you had scant grounds for hoping that my love for you would suffice to make me renounce all these fine things for the mere sake of accompanying you on your jaunt to Blois." He laughed, then fell to thanking me for having rid him of Canaples.

I cut him short at last, and in answer to his questions told him what had passed 'twixt his Eminence and me that afternoon.

Then as the waiter entered to spread our supper, the conversation assumed a less delicate character, until we were again alone with the table and its steaming viands between us.
"You have not told me yet, Andrea, what takes you to Blois," quoth I then.
"You shall learn.

Little do you dream how closely interwoven are our morning adventures with this journey of mine.

To begin with, I go to Blois to pay my devoirs to the lady whom his Eminence has selected for my future wife." "You were then right in describing this as a mission of great delicacy." "More than you think--I have never seen the lady." "Never seen her?
And you go a-wooing a woman you have never seen ?" "It is so.