They strolled to the end of the terrace. A pretty Chinese umbrella sheltered a delightful nook. The Duke and Maurice dropped into easy chairs. "Will you give me your word that what I am going to say to you will be for you alone; that you will not repeat it?" The young man refused, "How can I give my word without even knowing the subject of your confidences?" "It concerns your cousin." "Then it concerns Count Styvens." "Indirectly, yes." Maurice got up. "I would rather not listen to you, for my duty as a man of honour would compel me to speak, should it be necessary." The Duke sat still and reflected for a minute. "Very well, you shall judge when you have heard me, what you think you had better do. I leave you free. I love your cousin Esperance: she is the fiancée of Count Albert, but she is not in love with him." Maurice had thrown away his cigarette and leaning forward, his hands clasped, his eyes on the ground, listened intently. "I have paid her in a way attentions for a year; I admit it was wrong for I had no definite intentions. A visit to Penhouet, however, completely changed my opinion of this little maiden. The atmosphere of beauty, of calm in which she lived, the liking and respect I felt for M. and Madame Darbois, and the free play of intelligence and taste I there discovered, made a deep impression on me and I could not forget. The ordinary life of society, so artificial, so devoid of real interest, this life that eats up hours and weeks and months in futilities, in nothings that come to nothing, all this became suddenly quite burdensome to me. I continuously thought of the adorable child I had seen at Penhouet, brighter than all else in that radiant place. I was travelling, and did not learn of the accident to your cousin and Count Styvens until I returned to Paris. Then I wrote for news." "I came back here to my old aunt's, my nearest relative. I wanted to ask her to invite the whole of the Darbois family to spend a month here at Montjoie. A letter from Count Albert, announcing his engagement to Esperance, was a terrible blow to me. I conceived the detestable idea of revenging myself on Albert, but every scheme went against me. I have been beaten without ever having fought." Then he paused. "Since you have done me the honour to make me your confidant, permit me to say that the little ambush you laid for Esperance this morning...."