French and Oriental Love in a Harem

"All right," said I. "It would seem then that you had written something

very compromising to that soldier, whom you have never met and whom you

don't know."

"It was a letter for the modiste," she replied with assumed indignation.

"Yes, and you no doubt wanted him to deliver it," I retorted in an

ironical strain.

This last bitter dart went home and set her beside herself. She assumed

a superb attitude.

"I shall not give you any explanation," she said. "Believe whatever you

please. Do whatever you choose. As for myself, I know what I have to do

now. Since I am spied upon and treated in this fashion I have had enough

of leading such a life--I prefer to put an end to it at once!"

"And how do you purpose putting an end to it?" I resumed. "It will

perhaps be necessary to consult me a little bit on that subject."

"But you are neither my husband nor my brother, my dear fellow," she

exclaimed in the most airy way imaginable, "and I don't suppose that you

are going to talk to me any more of those stupid Turkish rights. We are

in Paris and I know that I am free!"

"Well, where will your freedom take you?"

"Oh! don't worry yourself about me--I should not have any trouble to

secure a husband. Do you imagine, my dear fellow, that I should be

embarrassed to find a position?"

This characteristic word showed me that she was far more completely

initiated than I had suspected.

"And you expect," I retorted, "to obtain this position from that fine

nobleman, eh?"

These disdainful words exasperated her; she lost all self-restraint and

burnt her ships.

"That fine nobleman is a duke!" she exclaimed vehemently. "I will not

allow you to insult him. And since you dare to threaten me, I will tell

you that I love him and that he adores me, and that he offers to marry

me and promises me every bliss--"

In spite of my misfortune I could not help laughing at this fiery

indignant declaration to which Zouhra's Turkish accent imparted an

irresistibly comic effect. My gaiety brought her anger to a climax.

Frenzied, decided upon everything, she darted to a chiffonier, drew out

an illuminated card, upon which two doves were pecking one another, and

threw it at me with a queenly air, exclaiming: "There, my dear fellow you will see if I still have any need of you!"