Oho! now I am a villain! You flatter me, Rosette, I haven't that honor. I am a blithesome bourgeois, alas! and I have never committed the least crime; I have done a foolish thing, perhaps, in loving you to distraction; that is all.--Are you absolutely determined to make me repent that?--I have loved you and I love you now as much as I can. Since I have been your lover I have always walked in your shadow: I have given you all my time, my days and my nights. I have indulged in no high-flown phrases with you because I don't care for them except when they are written; but I have given you a thousand proofs of my affection. I won't speak of the most scrupulous fidelity, for that goes without saying; but I have lost a pound and three-quarters since you have been my mistress. What more do you want? Here I am in your bed; I was here yesterday, I shall be here to-morrow. Is that the way a man acts with a woman he doesn't love? I do whatever you want; you say: "Go," and I go; "stay," and I stay; I am the most admirable lover in the world, it seems to me. ROSETTE. That is just what I complain of--you are the most perfect lover in the world. I. What have you to reproach me for? ROSETTE. Nothing; and I would prefer to have some reason to complain of you. I. This is an extraordinary quarrel. ROSETTE. It's much worse than that.--You don't love me.--I can do nothing about it, nor can you.--What remedy have I for that? Certainly I would prefer to have something to forgive you for.--I would scold you; you would apologize as best you could and we should make up. I. That would be all clear gain for you. The greater the crime, the more imposing the reparation. ROSETTE. You know very well, monsieur, that I am not yet reduced to that, and that if I chose, at this moment, although you don't love me and we are quarrelling-- I. Yes, I agree that it is purely the result of your kindness of heart.--Be a little kind now; that would be better than syllogizing over our heads as we are doing. ROSETTE. You want to cut short a conversation that embarrasses you; but by your leave, my good friend, we will be content with talking. I. That's a cheap repast.--I assure you that you are making a mistake, for you are distractingly pretty, and I have sensations. ROSETTE. Which you can describe some other time. I. Aha! my adorable, you have become a little Hyrcanian tigress, have you? your cruelty to-day is beyond words!--Have you been taken with the fever to set yourself up as a vestal? It would be an amusing whim. ROSETTE.