Part 31 (1/2)
”Explain yourself”
”Your highness has people about you who are far h to enter into contest with them, and I therefore withdrew”
”This extreme diffidence shoant of common sense Who are those hom you cannot contend? De Guiche?”
”I name no one”
”This is absurd Does De Guiche annoy you?”
”I do not say he does; do not force me to speak, however; you know very well that De Guiche is one of our best friends”
”Who is it, then?”
”Excuse neur, let us say no more about it” The chevalier knew perfectly well that curiosity is excited in the sa that which quenches it; or in other words, by denying an explanation
”No, no,” said the prince; ”I wish to knohy you went away”
”In that case, ry I rereeable”
”To whom?”
”To Madame”
”What do you mean?” said the duke in astonishh; Madah to testify for me”
”Has she shown it to you?”
”Madame never addresses a syllable to me, particularly since a certain time”
”Since what ti reeable to her than I could, she receives him at every and any hour”
The duke colored ”At any hour, chevalier; what do you hness, I have already displeased you; I was quite sure I should”
”I a In what respect does Madame prefer De Guiche to you?”
”I shall say nothe prince ceremoniously
”On the contrary, I require you to speak If you withdraw on that account, youjealous, hness jealous of Madame? Would you not, if you saw soreat favor, take uhness has so me your friend”
”Yes, yes,; but you used a phrase which has a very equivocal significance; you are unfortunate in your phrases”
”What phrase, reat favor' What do youcan be reat frankness; ”for instance, whenever a husband remarks that his wife summons such and such a man near her; whenever this man is always to be found by her side, or in attendance at the door of her carriage; whenever the bouquet of the one is always the same color as the ribbons of the other; when music and supper parties are held in private apartments; whenever a dead silence takes place immediately the husband makes his appearance in his wife's rooms; and when the husband suddenly finds that he has, as a companion, the most devoted and the kindest of men, who, a week before, ith him as little as possible; why, then-”
”Well, finish”
”Why, then, I say, et jealous But all these details hardly apply; for our conversation had nothing to do with theitated, and seeood deal ”You have not told me,” he then reo you said it was fro; you added, even, that you had observed a disposition on Madaneur, I did not say that”
”You did, indeed”
”Well, if I did say so, I observed nothing but as very inoffensive”
”At all events, you reneur”
”What does that matter? Answer me If you speak the truth, why should you feel eneur; but I also always hesitate when it is a question of repeating what others say”
”Ah! repeat? It appears that it is talked about, then?”
”I acknowledge that others have spoken to me on the subject”
”Who?” said the prince
The chevalier assuneur, you are subjecting me to cross-examination; you treat me as a crientlenify rumors until it attains the ireat displeasure, ”the fact remains that you withdrew on account of this report”
”To speak the truth, others have talked tomore; perfectly harmless, I repeat, and neur, and do not attach any undue importance to it It does not concern you”
”M de Guiche's attentions to Madaneur; and what I say to you I would say to De Guiche himself, so little do I think of the attentions he pays Madame Nay, I would say it even to Madame herself Only you understand what I aht jealous of the favor shohen I am only jealous as far as friendshi+p is concerned I know your disposition; I know that when you bestow your affections you become exclusively attached You love Madame-and who, indeed, would not love her? Followyour friends the handsoin to influence you on his behalf in such a way that you will neglect the others Your indifference would kill h to have to support Madaive way to the favorite whose happiness I envy, even while I acknowledge my sincere friendshi+p and sincere ad to object to in this reasoning? Is it not that of a man of honor? Is my conduct that of a sincere friend? Answerso closely questioned me”
The duke had seated hi enough to enable the chevalier to judge the effect of this oratorical display, the duke arose, saying, ”Come, be candid”
”As I always am”
”Very well You know that we already observed sohaneur, or I shall take my leave It is impossible you can be suspicious of Madame?”
”No, no, chevalier; I do not suspect Madahaneur”
”A hly”
”No, no,” said the chevalier, quickly; ”it was not I who opened your eyes, it was De Guiche Do not confound us, I beg” And he began to laugh in so harsh a manner that it sounded like the hiss of a serpent