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218 who a week before was with him as little as possible; why, then"

"Well, finish."

"Why, then, I say, monseigneur, one possibly may get jealous. But all these details hardly apply; for our conversation had nothing to do with them."

The duke was evidently much agitated, and seemed to struggle within himself a good deal. "You have not told me," he then remarked, "why you absented yourself. A little while ago you said it was from a fear of intruding; you added even that you had observed a disposition on madame's part to encourage De Guiche."

"Pardon me, monseigneur, I did not say that."

"You did, indeed."

"Well, if I did say so I noticed nothing but what was very inoffensive."

"At all events, you remarked something."

"You embarrass me, monseigneur."

"What does that matter? Answer me. If you speak the truth why should you feel embarrassed?"

"I always speak the truth, monseigneur; but I also always hesitate when it is a question of repeating what others say."

"Ah! ah! you 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 assumed almost an angry air as he replied, "Monseigneur, you are subjecting me to the question; you treat me as a criminal at the bar; and the rumors which idly pass by a gentleman's ears do not remain there. Your highness wishes me to magnify the rumor until it attains the importance of an event."

"However," sad the duke in great displeasure, "the fact remains that you withdraw on account of this report."

"To speak the truth, others have talked to me of the attentions of Monsieur de Guiche to madame, nothing more; perfectly harmless, I repeat, and more than that, permissible. But do not be unjust, monseigneur, and do not attach an undue importance to it. It does not concern you."

"Monsieur de Guiche's attentions to madame do not concern me?"

"No monseigneur; 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.