here I fancied that a blush, even through the gloom of the apartment, became distinctly visible upon her cheek—“have you any recollection, mon cher ami , of this little ocular assistant, which now depends from my neck?”
As she spoke she twirled in her fingers the identical double eyeglass which had so overwhelmed me with confusion at the opera.
“Full well—alas! do I remember it,” I exclaimed, pressing passionately the delicate hand which offered the glasses for my inspection. They formed a complex and magnificent toy, richly chased and filigreed, and gleaming with jewels, which, even in the deficient light, I could not help perceiving were of high value.
“ Eh bien! mon ami ,” she resumed with a certain empressment of manner that rather surprised me—“ Eh bien! mon ami , you have earnestly besought of me a favor which you have been pleased to denominate priceless. You have demanded of me my hand upon the morrow. Should I yield to your entreaties—and, I may add, to the pleadings of my own bosom—would I not be entitled to demand of you a very—a very little boon in return?”