"Try some of those cigars," I said, after a minute, "they are not
bad, and take whatever you like to drink," and I got up and filled
my glass at the same time.
"I think that brandy is the worst thing for your head," remarked
Dick, looking dubiously at the glass.
"But I am so confoundedly thirsty!"
"Take the soda without the brandy, then. Really, I would advise you
not to touch that spirit to-night."
"Oh, I don't much care! let it be the soda;" and I filled another
tumbler with the latter and drank it. "But what is your own opinion
about this business with Lucia," I asked, when Dick had stretched
himself on the sofa and started his cigar. "What puzzles me so is
the great change in her--a change apparently in the whole tenour of
her feelings. You can't think how wide the difference is between her
now and a year ago. I told you that she came over to Paris to see
me, didn't I?"
Dick nodded.
"That was only twelve months back, and she was simply--well, she was
evidently very much in love then. You know what I mean, and she made
no effort to conceal it. She urged our marriage; and then, when we
decided it was impossible, she would have liked me to go any
reasonable lengths in demonstration of my love for her, and so on. I
made a mistake there, perhaps, but I thought it unwise. We hardly
knew where we were as it was.
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