"I thought I was doing very well." "Yet you can not guess how to persuade me ?" "No; how could that be ?" "Always one gains by offering some equivalent, value for value--especially with women, Monsieur." She went on as though to herself.

"Come, now, I fancy him! He is handsome, he is discreet, he has courage, he is not usual, he is not curious; but ah, _mon Dieu_, what a fool!" "Admit me to be a fool, Madam, since it is true; but tell me in my folly what equivalent I can offer one who has everything in the world--wealth, taste, culture, education, wit, learning, beauty ?" "Go on! Excellent!" "Who has everything as against my nothing! _What_ value, Madam ?" "Why, gentle idiot, to get an answer ask a question, always." "I have asked it." "But you can not guess that _I_ might ask one?
So, then, one answer for another, we might do--what you Americans call some business--eh?
Will you answer _my_ question ?" "Ask it, then." "_Were you married_--that other night ?" So, then, she was woman after all, and curious! Her sudden speech came like a stab; but fortunately my dull nerves had not had time to change my face before a thought flashed into my mind.

Could I not make merchandise of my sorrow?
I pulled myself into control and looked her fair in the face.
"Madam," I said, "look at my face and read your own answer." She looked, searching me, while every nerve of me tingled; but at last she shook her head.

"No," she sighed.

"I can not yet say." She did not see the sweat starting on my forehead.
I raised my kerchief over my head.