"Are you surprised, then, that I am still thinking of Saint-Mande ?" "Of Saint-Mande ?" exclaimed Madame de Belliere; and the looks of both women met each other like two resistless swords.
"You, so proud!" said the marquise, disdainfully.
"I, so proud!" replied Madame Vanel.

"Such is my nature.

I do not forgive neglect--I cannot endure infidelity.

When I leave any one who weeps at my abandonment, I feel induced still to love him; but when others forsake me and laugh at their infidelity, I love distractedly." Madame de Belliere could not restrain an involuntary movement.
"She is jealous," said Marguerite to herself.
"Then," continued the marquise, "you are quite enamored of the Duke of Buckingham--I mean of M.Fouquet ?" Elise felt the allusion, and her blood seemed to congeal in her heart.

"And you wished to go to Vincennes,--to Saint-Mande, even ?" "I hardly know what I wished: you would have advised me perhaps." "In what respect ?" "You have often done so." "Most certainly I should not have done so in the present instance, for I do not forgive as you do.