INDIRA
question of living, a woman can live by begging. But I do not wish to live if you leave me. What I want is a proof, my dear, that you will not leave me all my life long. For to-day is the last day of my darling's trial."
"What will you have me do?" he asked, "I will do whatever you desire."
"I am only a woman," I replied, "what shall I say? Think it out for yourself."
Then I led the talk to other subjects. By degrees I fell to telling him a silly story—made up, of course—about a man who had made a deed of gift of all his property to his mistress. That was the gist of it.
He ordered his carriage to be got ready, and drove away. This was the first time he had left me during the whole week. Presently he returned, but did not tell me where he had been, nor did I venture to ask him. In the afternoon, he went out again. When he came back, he had a paper in his hand.
"Take this," he said; "this is a deed giving you the whole of my worldly goods. I
41
