“Certainly; a declaration to a woman! mon Dieu! is that such a rare thing, for heaven’s sake, a thing for which it is necessary to make so much fuss? Every day pretty women receive declarations addressed to them in jest, to which they attach no more importance than they deserve. But you take fright at a word! a simple compliment seems to you an attempt at seduction! you shouldn’t take things so! But I know you: you don’t like--more than that, you detest Dufresne. For a long time you have been trying to ruin him in my estimation, and you seize this pretext for accomplishing your purpose; but I warn you, madame, that you will not succeed.” “Is it possible, monsieur? do you accuse me, do you suspect me of being capable of deceiving you?” “Or of being deceived? How do you know that Dufresne did not talk all that nonsense to you to make sport of you, and to be revenged for your hatred, which he perceives very plainly?” “Was it for that purpose too that he tried to carry his audacity so far as to kiss me?” “Kiss you! Well, I admit that he was wrong to kiss you against your will, and I shall scold him for it. But a kiss is not a thing which should irritate you to this point!” “You do not intend then, monsieur, to cease to receive Monsieur Dufresne in your house?” “Most assuredly, madame, I do not intend to make myself unhappy, to make myself ridiculous, and to cause people to point their fingers at me as a jealous husband, simply because somebody ventured to embrace you in jest! That would be utterly absurd! But calm yourself, I will forbid Dufresne to mention his passion to you again!” “What, Edouard, you laugh! You think so little of what I have told you?” “I do what it is my duty to do, and I know how to behave.” “Alas! you no longer love me, I see. Formerly you were more jealous.” “One may love without being jealous; and besides--but it is getting late, and I have business that I must attend to.” “What about that rich shipowner for whom you gave the party?” “He was not able to come.” “So all your expense was useless?” “Useless! No, indeed; I was very warmly congratulated on my party. It will do me a great deal of good in the sequel, and I am delighted that I gave it.--I must leave you, for I have not a moment of my own.” Edouard hurried away to Dufresne. That gentleman seemed a little disturbed at sight of him, but he soon recovered himself; it was not to talk about what his wife had told him that Murville was so eager to be with him, but to talk about the lovely woman with whom he had played écarté the night before, to find out who she was and what position she held in society; in a word, it was to dilate without reserve upon desires and hopes which he did not shrink from disclosing to his friend.