If you wish to repulse the man whom you fear and who pursues you,--to give him such a rebuff that he will never again dare to approach you,--then wait until he makes the proposal which you dread, and give him this answer: 'Between you and me there is a canonical interdict which renders our union impossible; it is contained in the fourteenth paragraph of the Secret Instructions.' As soon as you say that he will vanish so completely from your presence that you will never set eyes on him again." "Wonderful!" cried Blanka.

"That will surely be a miracle." "Such it may always remain to you," returned Manasseh, "and you may never know how deep a wound you have inflicted.

But you must thenceforth look for no mercy.

Sue urgently for a decision, and be prepared for a harsh one." "Thank you," said Blanka, simply.

"_N'en parlons plus_"-- repeating Prince Cagliari's phrase.
With that she stepped lightly to the stone block which the artist had been using for a chair, and, seating herself on it, began to copy in outline his painting of the Colosseum, as if that had been the sole purpose of her coming.