Part 36 (1/2)
Finally he crossed his arms, and immediately afterwards disengaged them again.
”In a word, a ravis.h.i.+ng beauty,” said I. ”I congratulate you!”
”I think you may.”
”Your tender sentiment is naturally reciprocated?”
”Oho!” and he caught hold of the flat of his sword.
”I did not mean to insinuate the contrary,” I said.
”Naturally.”
Then he was silent, and began to fumble about his stiff cravat. I saw that he wanted me to ask him some more questions.
”A maiden lady?”
”Oh, no!”
”Then a widow lady?”
”Ah, no!”
”Then it can't be a lady at all?”
”No, no! What are you thinking of?”
”Then what is she?”
”A lady who has a husband, but yet is not a married lady.”
”Aha! A _divorcee_?”
”Yes.”
”Then the relations between you are quite legitimate.”
At this, my lieutenant of dragoons rose from his chair and stood before me in quite a magisterial position. I also stood up.
”The lady desires you to be her ...”--here the word he wanted would not occur to him. He raised the three first fingers of his right hand above his head, like one who is taking an oath. I guessed his meaning.
”A witness to her marriage?”
”No, not that. She used another word.”
”Oh, she meant I was to give her away?”
”Yes, that is it. How I do forget!”
”Then is the chosen of your heart an acquaintance of mine?”