What was it ?" "The knowledge that my adversary's sufferings were still greater than my own." "Ah! you mean he was more seriously wounded than you were; I was not aware of that," said the princess, with utter indifference.
"Oh! madame, you are mistaken, or rather you pretend to misunderstand my remark.

I did not say that he was more suffering in body than myself; but his heart was seriously affected." De Guiche comprehended in what direction the struggle was approaching; he ventured to make a sign to Madame, as if entreating her to retire from the contest.

But she, without acknowledging De Guiche's gesture, without pretending to have noticed it even, and still smiling, continued: "Is it possible," she said, "that the Duke of Buckingham's heart was touched?
I had no idea, until now, that a heart wound could be cured." "Alas! madame," replied De Wardes, politely, "every woman believes that; and it is such a belief which gives them over us that superiority which confidence imposes." "You misunderstand altogether, dearest," said the prince, impatiently; "M.

de Wardes means that the Duke of Buckingham's heart had been touched, not by a sword, but by something else." "Ah! very good, very good!" exclaimed Madame.

"It is a jest of M.de Wardes'; very good; but I should like to know if the Duke of Buckingham would appreciate the jest.