"See me; this wicket is made for that, and, also, that we can talk as friends, and thus charm our solitude; which, in truth, does not weigh heavily, you are so good a _master!_ See what dangerous confessions I can make through this door." "And will you not open this door? Yet see how submissive I am! to-night I might have tried to enter with you into your chamber--I did not." "You are submissive for two reasons. In the first place, you know that being, from necessity, in the habit of wearing a dirk, I handle with a firm hand this venomous plaything, sharper than the tooth of a viper; you know also, that on the day I complain of you, I shall leave forever this house, leaving you a thousand time more charmed, since you have been so gracious toward your unworthy servant as to be charmed with her." "My servant? it is I who am your slave--your slave, mocked, despised." "That is true enough." "And does not this touch you?" "It amuses me. The days, and, above all, the nights, are so long." "Oh, the cursed--" "No seriously, you appear so completely bewildered, your features change so sensibly, that I am flattered. It is a poor triumph, but you are the only man here!" "To hear that, and only be able to consume in powerless rage!" "How little wit you have! never, perhaps, have I said anything to you more tender." "Scoff--scoff." "I do not scoff; I have never seen a man of your age so much in love; and, it must be acknowledged, that a young and handsome man would be incapable of such mad passion. An Adonis admires himself as much as he admires us; he loves on the end of his teeth; and then to love him is his due, hardly is he grateful; but to love a man like you, my master, oh! that would be to raise him from earth to heaven; it would be to accomplish his wildest dreams, his hopes the most extravagent. For, in fine, the being would say to you, 'You love Cecily madly; if I wish it, she shall be yours'--you would believe such a being endowed with supernatural powers, would you not, dear master?" "Yes, oh! yes." "Well! if you knew how to convince me better of your passion, I should have, perhaps, the fantasy to play myself, in your favor, this supernatural part. Do you comprehend?" "I comprehend that you scoff at me still, always, and without pity." "Perhaps solitude creates such strange fantasies."