For several moments the young girl, absorbed in her charming thoughts, was dreaming to the sound of his voice, without listening to the sense of his words.
“ Oh! how happy you will be!” continued the captain, and at the same time he gently unbuckled the gypsy’s girdle.
“ What are you doing?” she said quickly. This “act of violence” had roused her from her revery.
“ Nothing,” replied Phœbus, “I was only saying that you must abandon all this garb of folly, and the street corner when you are with me.”
“ When I am with you, Phœbus!” said the young girl tenderly.
She became pensive and silent once more.
The captain, emboldened by her gentleness, clasped her waist without resistance; then began softly to unlace the poor child’s corsage, and disarranged her tucker to such an extent that
