Come, Andrea," and I took his arm, "let us ascend to that chamber
which she has but just quitted. Who can tell but that we shall find there
some token of her recent presence? If nothing more, at least the air will
be pervaded by the perfume she affected, and since you scorn the humble
food of man, you can dine on that."
He smiled despite himself as I drew him towards the staircase.
"Scoffer!" quoth he. "Your callous soul knows naught of love."
"Whereas you have had three hours' experience. Pardieu! You shall
instruct me in the gentle art."
Alas, for those perfumes upon which I had proposed that he should feast
himself. If any the beautiful Genevi?ve had left behind her, they had been
smothered in the vulgar yet appetising odour of the steaming rago?t that
occupied the table.
I prevailed at length upon the love-lorn boy to take some food, but I could
lead him to talk of naught save Genevi?ve de Canaples. Presently he took
to chiding me for the deliberateness wherewith I ate, and betrayed thereby
his impatience to be in the saddle and after her. I argued that whilst she
saw him not she might think of him.
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