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"Is that really the only reason?"

"If there were any other, I would tell you; for we are not to have any

secrets fro to take a roundabout way of saying

what I really want to say Honestly, do you care for reat deal"

"Then why did you deceive me?"

"My friend, if I were the Duchess So and So, if I had two hundred

thousand francs a year, and if I were your ht to ask uerite

Gautier, I am forty thousand francs in debt, I have not a penny of my

own, and I spend a hundred thousand francs a year Your question becoht," I said, letting my head sink on her knees; "but I love

you madly"

"Well, my friend, you must either love me a little less or understand reat deal of pain If I had

been free, first of all I would not have seen the count the day before

yesterday, or, if I had, I should have coiveness