"I know; you reach it by the lane where mandrakes are to be found.
How is it that I did not meet you before? By what sinister destiny,
living so near you, have I lived without seeing you? But what do I
say, lived? Is it to live without knowing you? Are you shut up in
yonder lodge?"

"It is true I am somewhat of a recluse, and cannot go for walks as I
wish, to the shops, to theatres. Mosaide's tenderness does not leave
me any liberty. He guards me jealously, and, besides six small gold
cups he brought with him from Lisbon, he loves but me on earth. As
he is much more attached to me than he was to my Aunt Myriam, he
would kill you, dear, with a better heart than he killed the
Portuguese. I warn you so, to impress the necessity of discretion on
you, and because it is not a consideration which could stop a brave
gentleman. Are you of a good family, my friend?"

"Alas! no; my father applies himself to a mechanic art, and has a
sort of trade."

"And he is not of any of the professions? Does not belong to the
banking world? No? It is a pity. Well. you're to be loved for
yourself. But speak the truth. Is M. d'Asterac to be back shortly?"

At this name and question a terrible doubt came in my mind. I
suspected the enchanting Jahel to have been sent by the cabalist to
play the part of a Salamander with me. I went so far as to excuse
her in my mind of being the nymph of that old fool. To obtain an
immediate explanation I bluntly and coarsely asked her if she was in
the habit of acting the Salamander in the castle.