er usual way, but she no
longer bore upon her features her old tranquillity of expression.

"I will take coffee, mademoiselle," I observed; "and as I do not want
foie gras any longer, I will take dinner by myself. Consequently, you may
tell your father that I shall only pay seven pauls a day. In future I
shall only drink Orvieto wine."

"You have still four bottles of Scopolo and Cyprus."

"I never take back a present; the wine belongs to you. I shall be obliged
by your leaving me alone as much as possible, as your conduct is enough
to irritate Socrates, and I am not Socrates. Besides, the very sight of
you is disagreeable to me. Your body may be beautiful, but knowing that
the soul within is a monster it charms me no longer. You may be very sure
that the sailors brought my luggage here without my orders, or else you
would never have seen me here again, where I dread being poisoned every
day."

Leah went out without giving me any answer, and I felt certain that after
my plain-spoken discourse she would take care not to trouble me again.

Experience had taught me that girls like Leah are not uncommon. I had
known specimens at Spa, Genoa, London, and at Venice, but this Jewess was
the worst I had ever met.

It was Saturday. When Mardocheus came back from the synagogue he asked me
gaily why I had mortified his daughter, as she had declared she had done
nothing to offend me.

"I have not mortified her, my dear Mardocheus, or at all events, such was
not my intention; but as I have put myself on diet, I shall be eating no
more foie gras, and consequently I shall dine by myself, and save three
pauls a day."

"Leah is quite ready to pay me out of her private purse, and she wants to
dine with you to assure you against being poisoned, as she informs me
that you have expressed that fear."

"That was only a jest; I am perfectly aware that I am in the house of an
honest man. I don't want your daughter to pay for herself, and to prove
that I am not actuated by feelings of economy, you shall dine with me
too. To offer to pay for me is an impertinence on her part. In fine, I
will either dine by myself and pay you seven pawls a day, or I will pay
you thirteen, and have both father and daughter to dine with me."

The worthy Mardocheus went away, saying that he really could not allow me
to dine by myself.

At dinner-time I talked only to Mardocheus, without glancing at Leah or
paying any attention to the witty sallies she utt