_D._ Nay: no robbery. And yet there was, Laura, a robbery: Of honour,—our honour,—of woman’s honour. Laura, thou knowest the sacredness of love: Love is the one thing in the world which women Must guard from profanation; for by love They rule; and if they trifle with their power, 1550 They come to be men’s chattels, not their queens. Thou’lt soon be married, Laura, and I can talk Freely of these things: I have taught thee the religious And philosophic doctrines; but to-day We deal with facts. And first, then, I rejoice Thy husband will be a man whom thou wilt rule, One who adores thee reverently, who holds Of love, as I, and with some special fancy:— He is quite a poet.—Why, now, shouldst thou smile? Thou hast no taste in poetry, but suppose 1560 St. Nicholas had lacked that inner sight, Had fancied thee merely because he thought thee A fine girl, and had used the common tricks Of odious trifling, till he dared to kiss thee, And meet thee alone, and put his arm about thee.... _L._ Good heavens, Diana! I hope you do not think He has ever done so. _D._ No: of course he wouldn’t. But ’tis a fact men do such things; and that Not with one woman only. And ’tis true That there are ladies who admit the addresses 1570 Of more than one man. _L._ O Diana! _D._ Indeed, ’Tis true: and women are to blame if men Make them their sport. Thou’rt shocked: but ’tis a fact That this detested pestilence invades Earth’s every nook: my palace doors and bolts, My strong precautions, my well-known regard For strictness, my injunctions, my example, Cannot expel it. _L._ Pray, Diana, tell me What it is: you frighten me. Was any caught Breaking the rules, or is it but suspicion? 1580 _D._ Of the two criminals, the man I know, The woman I know not; but if I knew her, I am in the mood to kill her. _L._ (_aside_). Thank heaven, she does not guess me— Who is the man? _D._ Better not ask; it matters not to thee: But thou canst help me find this erring Eve. If thou’st observed in any of the maids Conscious behaviour, scrupulous regard To petty adornment, or, what most betrays, An inconsiderate blushing.... _L._ (_aside_). The maids, she says! 1590 One of the maids! Good heavens!— _D._ Marcela: Could it be she? She is handsome. _L._ ’Tis not she: She tells me all her secrets. _D._ Dorothy? _L._ I do not think it. _D._ Katharine? _L._ No, not Kate. _D._ I’ll find the traitress out. _L._ (_aside_). To save myself I had best fall in with this. _D._ What do you say? _L._ I have not a suspicion,—but....