I have long wanted to ask monsieur for something against the rheumatism in my left shoulder, but did not like to because madame says monsieur may not practice here." What object could Pilar have in inventing these fables?
As he remained silent Auguste resumed: "Monsieur may trust me, I am discreet, and I always defend him against Anne, who is spiteful as a cat.

She says monsieur is a Prussian spy and a fortune-hunter, and is simply preying upon madame.

And she calls monsieur something still worse, which I would not like to repeat.

It is a shame, for monsieur has never done her any harm, and it would not be quite so bad if she only let out her vile temper before us, but she slanders monsieur to outsiders and gives him a dreadfully bad name." "I am sorry that you should retail such gossip to me," said Wilhelm, making a great effort to appear unmoved.
"I considered it my duty, as an honest man.

I am not saying more than the truth about the maid, and am perfectly ready to repeat it all to her face.