, your ingenuity has conjured up an Equity lawyer
instead of an artless girl not sixteen years of age! Do, pray, explain
to me how, with a mind so prone to anticipate difficulties, and so rife
to coin objections,--how, in the name of all that is wonderful, do you
ever get through the immense mass of complicated affairs your theatrical
life must present? If, before you engage a prima donna, you are obliged
to trace her parentage through three generations back, to scrutinize her
baptismal registry and her mother's marriage certificate, all I can say
is that a prime minister's duties must be light holiday work compared
with the cares of _your_ lot."

"My investigations are not carried exactly so far as you have depicted
them," said he, good-humoredly; "but, surely, I 'm not too exacting if I
say I should like some guarantee."

"I beg your pardon, Mr. Stocmar," said she, interrupting him with a
laugh, "but may I ask if you are married?"

"No, madam. I am a bachelor."

"You probably intend, however, at some future time to change your state.
I'm certain you don't mean to pass all your life in the egotism of
celibacy."

"Possibly not, madam. I will not say that I am beyond the age of being
fascinated or being foolish."

"Just what I mean, sir. Well, surely, in such a contingency, you 'd not
require the lady to give you what you have just called a guarantee that
she 'd not run away from you?"

"My trust in her would be that guarantee, madam."

"Extend the same benevolent sentiment to me, sir. _Trust_ me. I ask for
no more." And she said this with a witchery of look and manner that made
Mr. Stocmar feel very happy and very miserable, twice over, within the
space of a single minute.

Poor Mr. Stocmar, what has become of all your caution, all your craft,
and all the counsels so lately given you? Where are they now? Where is
that armor of distrust in which you were to resist the barbed arrow of
the enchantress? Trust her! It was not to be thought of, and yet it
was exactly the very thing to be done, in spite of all thought and in
defiance of all reason.

And so the "Stocmar" three-decker struck her flag, and the ensign of the
fast frigate floated from her masthead!

CHAPTER XXXII. A DRIVE ROUND THE CASCINE AT FLORENCE

"Here's another note for you, Stocmar," said Paten, half peevishly, as
they both sat at breakfast at the Hotel d'Italie, and the waiter entered
with a letter. "That's the third from her this morn