She ignored him, making a feint that was not entirely successful at interest in her fruit.
"Who art thou, in truth ?" he asked finally.
"Laodice," she answered coldly.
He sighed and she added nothing more.
"What can your purpose be in this ?" he asked.
She ignored the question.

After a longer silence, he said in an altered and softened tone: "What an innocent you are! Certainly this is your first attempt! What marplot told you that such a thing as you have essayed was possible ?" She put aside her plate and her cup, and turned to him.
"By your leave I will retire," she said.
"Not yet," he answered, smiling.

"It is my duty as a Jew to help you while there is time." She settled back in her chair and looked at the cluster of plants while he talked.
"Nothing so damages the beauty of a woman as trickery.

No bad woman is beautiful very long.

There comes a canker on her soul's beauty, in her face, that disfigures her, soon or late.