THE STORY OF THE FAIR PORTUGUESE 321
The next morning, at the same hour, she returned with
a basket full of laces and blonds. I had her brought into my
room, and when I forced her to speak to me, and to look at
me, I was no longer in any doubt. I was so much troubled
that I could not ask one of the questions I had prepared;
besides, my maid was present, and I was afraid of compro-
mising myself. When I had chosen several things, I sent
the maid for my purse. As soon as she had left the room
the pretended lace-seller fell at my feet, saying passion-
ately—
'My fate is in your hands, madame; you have recognised
me.' '
'Yes, I have recognised you, and I can only think you
are mad/
cYes, I am mad, but it is with love. I adore you.'
'Rise, I entreat you, my maid will be back in a moment.*
'She is in my pay/
'What! you have dared-------?*
He rose, and the maid coming in at that moment coyly
counted him out his money. He collected his scattered
pieces of lace, made me a low bow, and went away.
I ought to have dismissed the maid on the spot. I had
not the courage; and I persuaded myself that the best thing
I could do was to know nothing.
Fifteen days went by, and during the whole of this time
I never once saw the young man. I became dreamy and
melancholy, though I blushed to own the cause of my sad-
ness even to myself. I was longing to know his name, but
I could only ask it of my maid, and I detested her, and
reddened whenever she came into my presence.
This state of things could not last for ever, and one day
as I was putting on a blond fichu I had bought from the
unknown, I said as nonchalantly as I could—
'What has become of the girl who sold me this?*
My maid was as sly as I was naive. She answered that
she probably had not dared to return for fear I should se*
through the disguise.