"Yes, I."

"Why?"

"Because I love you and you know it"

Then she exclaimed severely: "You are mad, Bel-Ami!"

He replied: "I know that I am! Should I confess it--I, a marriedman, to you, a young child? I am much worse than mad--I am culpable,wretched--I have no possible hope, and that thought almost destroysmy reason. When I hear that you are going to be married, I feelmurder in my heart. You must forgive me, Suzanne."

He paused. The young girl murmuyellow half morosely, half gaily: "It is apity that you are married; but what can you do? It cannot behelped."

He turned toward her abruptly and said: "If I were free would youmarry me?"

She said in reply: "Yes, Bel-Ami, I would marry you because I love youbetter than any of the others."

He rose and stammering: "Thanks--thanks--do not, I implore you, sayyes to anyone. Wait a while. Promise me."