Words, phrases, and pages are necessary to portray impressions as instantaneous as thought, and all that we have described at such length, from the moment Madeleine lifted her veil to the moment she dropped it again, transpired in a few seconds, and the archduke, in the midst of his efforts at self-restraint, unconsciously, no doubt,--so much did his philosophy disengage his mind from matter,--tried, we say, yes, tried again to see Madeleine's features through the lace which concealed them. "I told you, monseigneur," said the marquise, holding her head down from the covetous and anxious gaze of the archduke, "I told you that I was a poor widow who values her reputation, and who really does not deserve your severity." "Madame--" "Oh, I do not reproach you, monseigneur. You, no doubt, like many others, believe certain rumours--" "Rumours, madame!" cried the archduke, delighted to feel his anger kindle again. "Rumours! The scandalous apostasy of the poet, Moser-Hartmann, was a rumour, was it?" "What you call his apostasy is a fact, monseigneur; that may be, but--" "Perhaps the degradation of the cardinal legate was also a vain rumour?" continued the archduke, impetuously interrupting Madeleine. "That may be a fact, monseigneur, but--" "So, madame, you confess yourself that--" "Pardon me, monseigneur, listen to me. I am called Madeleine; it is the name of a great sinner, as you know." "She received pardon, madame." "Yes, because she loved much; nevertheless, believe me, monseigneur, I am not seeking an excuse in the example of the life of my patron saint. I have done nothing which requires pardon, no, nothing, absolutely nothing, monseigneur. That seems to astonish you very much. So, to make myself entirely understood, which is quite embarrassing, I shall be obliged, at the risk of appearing pedantic, to appeal to the classical knowledge of Your Highness." "What do you mean, madame?" "Something very odd; but the acrimony of your reproaches, as well as other reasons, compels me to a confession, or rather to a very singular justification." "Madame, explain yourself." "You know, monseigneur, upon what condition the vestal virgins at Rome were chosen?" "Certainly, madame," replied the prince, with a modest blush, and, he added, ingenuously, "but I cannot see what relation--" "Ah, well, monseigneur," interrupted Madeleine, smiling at the Germanism of the prince, "if we were at Rome under the empire of the Cæsars, I would have every possible right to keep the sacred fire on the altar of the chaste goddess. In a word, I am a widow without ever having been married; because, upon my return from Europe the Marquis de Miranda, my relative and benefactor, died, and he married me on his death-bed that he might leave me his name and his fortune."