"Of course not! I had a special devotion to St. Sebastian."

"Ah, yes, that would be rather compelling."

She closes the fan and raps him lightly with it. "And now you've corrupted me, stolen my innocence, my purity, my virginity-- now I'll have to be a fallen woman-- give birth to our child in a home for unwed mothers because I know you won't do right by me--"

"That's the danger of messing with people from the under world. You should have seen this coming."

"But you were so glamorous and forbidden."

"Well how else would I catch pretty little things like you otherwise?"

"Well. I didn't exactly run very hard."

"And look where that's got you!"

"Impregnated, apparently."

"Impregnated, out of wedlock, by a dashing rogue..."

"Mm. Keep talking like that and I'll be ready to go again."

"Oh, but I don't know, it's tempting, but I wouldn't want to get in trouble."

She raps him again. "I'd get in trouble, that's exactly what we've been talking about."

"And why would I care about that?" he says very sweetly.

"Brat."

"You know it."

"I'd hit you with a cane but you're from the barbaric East and don't enjoy the British vice."

"Alas, I have not yet been made that Civilised."

She kisses her. "I'm thinking of doing a new series."

"Ooh, what of?"

"My dreams."

"So, presumably less edifying Biblical art."

'Well, I'm not going to stop exploring the classical nude."

"Dreams make better nudes anyway.'

She turned more serious. "I keep getting such beautiful imagery in my dreams...  the city in the valley, and the sea-coast beyond, and the snowy peak overlooking the sea, and the gaily painted galleys that sail out of the harbour toward the distant regions where the sea meets the sky..."