“Very possibly; but you cannot mean to marry her?”

“Why not, my dear Condé? I shall have wealth enough for both of us, and you know that my uncle thinks liberally upon the subject. From what I have seen of Raymond de las Cisternas, I am certain that he will readily acknowledge Antonia for his niece. Her birth therefore will be no objection to my offering her my hand. I should be a villain could I think of her on any other terms than marriage; and in truth she seems possessed of every quality requisite to make me happy in a wife. Young, lovely, gentle, sensible.⁠ ⁠…”

“Sensible? Why, she said nothing but ‘Yes,’ and ‘No.’ ”

“She did not say much more, I must confess⁠—but then she always said ‘Yes,’ or ‘No,’ in the right place.”

“Did she so? Oh! your most obedient! That is using a right lover’s argument, and I dare dispute no longer with so profound a casuist. Suppose we adjourn to the comedy?”