'I fear,' said the young Duke with a smile, and in a soft sweet voice,
'that you will never speak to me again, for I am a ruined man.'
A beam of gentle affection reprimanded him even for badinage on such a
subject.
'I really came here to buy up all your stock, but that gorgon, Lady de
Courcy, captured me, and my ransom has sent me here free, but a beggar.
I do not know a more ill-fated fellow than myself. Now, if you had only
condescended to take me prisoner, I might have saved my money; for I
should have kissed my chain.'
'My chains, I fear, are neither very alluring nor very strong.' She
spoke with a thoughtful air, and he answered her only with his eye.
'I must bear off something from your stall,' he resumed in a more rapid
and gayer tone, 'and, as I cannot purchase you must present. Now for a
gift!'
'Choose!'
'Yourself.'
'Your Grace is really spoiling my sale. See! poor Lord Bagshot. What a
valuable purchaser.'
'Ah! Bag, my boy!' said the Duke to a slang young nobleman whom he
abhorred, but of whom he sometimes made a butt, 'am I in your way? Here!
take this, and this, and this, and give me your purse.
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