intended.

"As soon as she saw me, she ran up to me, smiling and anxious, and said
to me:

"'What have you brought me?'

"I pretended to have forgotten, but she did not believe me, and I made
her beg me, and beseech me, even. But when I saw that she was devoured by
curiosity, I gave her the sacred silver box. She appeared over-joyed.

"'A relic! Oh! A relic!'

"And she kissed the box passionately, so that I was ashamed of my
deception. She was not quite satisfied, however, and her uneasiness soon
turned to terrible fear, and looking straight into my eyes, she said:

"'Are you sure that it is authentic?'

"'Absolutely certain.'

"'How can you be so certain?'

"I was caught, for to say that I had bought it through a man in the
streets, would be my destruction. What was I to say? A wild idea struck
me, and I said, in a low, mysterious voice:

"'I stole it for you.'

"She looked at me with astonishment and delight in her large eyes.