French and Oriental Love in a Harem, page 169 by Mario Uchard
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n I told mamma that she must inform you at once, so that you may decide upon the manner in which she shall repulse the enemy."
"That's simple enough," said I. "She has only to tell my aunt, when next she calls, that she has consulted you."
"Is it as simple as that?"
"Certainly," I said, with a feeling of annoyance at the idea that she knew of Daniel's love. "Is it not solely your will that has to be consulted?"
Kondjé-Gul regarded me with astonishment.
"My will?" she said. "Good heavens! do you love me no longer?"
"Why should you imagine I love you no longer?" I answered.
"One might suppose that you wished to remind me of that horrible liberty which I am so much afraid of."
I then realised how stupid and abrupt I had been, and asked her forgiveness.
"You naughty fellow!" she said, pointing to the golden bracelet clasped round her arm.
We decided that I should go to her mother to concert with her and dictate to her the precise terms of a refusal which should cut short all Kiusko's hopes. We were just then emerging from the narrow avenue, and Maud and Edward were joining us again. Our ride came to an end without any other incident of note, except indeed that it appeared to me Daniel was watching Kondjé and myself, as if he wanted to guess what had taken place during our tête-à-tête, which he had observed from a distance. I troubled myself no further about this, but made up my mind to take measures that very day to put an end to this stupid adventure.
About three o'clock I went to Téral House, and in an interview with Kondjé-Gul's mother drew up the precise terms of her answer to my aunt, which consisted of a formula usually employed on similar occasions.
"Mademoiselle Kondjé-Gul feels greatly flattered by the honour which Count Daniel Kiusko has intended to confer upon her, but is unable to accept it." To this we added, in order to convince him it was not one of those ha