rapes
must have been made for the woman, she was so pretty in the eating of
them. But it was necessary that he should speak at last. "Have you
been thinking of coming to Como?" he said.

"I told you that I never think."

"But I want an answer to my proposition."

"I thought I had answered your Grace on that question." Then she put
down the grapes, and moved herself on her chair, so that she sat with
her face turned away from him.

"But a request to a lady may be made twice."

"Oh, yes. And I am grateful, knowing how far it is from your
intention to do me any harm. And I am somewhat ashamed of my warmth
on the other day. But still there can be but one answer. There
are delights which a woman must deny herself, let them be ever so
delightful."

"I had thought,--" the Duke began, and then he stopped himself.

"Your Grace was saying that you thought,--"

"Marie, a man at my age does not like to be denied."

"What man likes to be denied anything by a woman at any age? A woman
who denies anything is called cruel at once,--even though it be
her very soul." She had turned round upon him now, and was leaning
forward towards him from her chair, so that he could touch her if he
put out his hand.

He put out his hand and touched her. "Marie," he said, "will you deny
me if I ask?"

"Nay, my lord; how shall I say? There is many a trifle I would deny
you. There is many a great gift I would give you willingly."

"But the greatest gift of all?"

"My lord, if you have anything to say, you must say it plainly. There
never was a woman worse than I am at the reading of riddles."

"Could you endure to live in the quietude of an Italian lake with an
old man?" Now he touched her again, and had taken her hand.

"No, my lord;--nor with a young one,--for all my days. But I do not
know that age would guide me."

Then the Duke rose and made his proposition in form. "Marie, you know
that I love you. Why it is that I at my age should feel so sore a
love, I cannot say."

"So sore a love!"

"So sore, if it be not gratified. Marie, I ask you to be my wife."

"Duke of Omnium, this from you!"

"Yes, from me. My coronet is at your feet. If you will allow me to
raise it, I will place it on your brow."

Then she went away from him, and seated herself at a distance. After
a moment or two he followed her, and stood with his arm upon her
shoulder. "You will give me an answer, Marie?"

"You cannot have thought of this, my lord."