Our uncle seeks to gain our support and with it the support of those noble houses to which he is allying us.

The nobility opposes him, therefore he seeks to find relatives among noblemen, so that he may weather the storm of which his far-seeing eyes have already detected the first dim clouds.

What to him are my feelings, my inclinations, my affections?
Things of no moment, to be sacrificed so that I may serve him in the manner that will bring him the most profit.

Yet you call him not selfish! Were he not selfish, I should go to him and say: 'I love Genevieve de Canaples.

Create me Duke as you would do, did I wed her sister, and the Chevalier de Canaples will not withstand our union.' What think you would be his answer ?" "I have a shrewd idea what his answer would be," I replied slowly.