M.de Guiche loves this illustrious personage, but she will never love him." Athenais laughed disdainfully.

"Do people really ever love ?" she said.
"Where are the noble sentiments you just now uttered?
Does not a woman's virtue consist in the uncompromising refusal of every intrigue that might compromise her?
A properly regulated woman, endowed with a natural heart, ought to look at men, make herself loved--adored, even, by them, and say at the very utmost but once in her life, 'I begin to think that I ought not to have been what I am,--I should have detested this one less than others.'" "Therefore," exclaimed La Valliere, "that is what M.de Montespan has to expect." "Certainly; he, as well as every one else.

What! have I not said that I admit he possesses a certain superiority, and would not that be enough?
My dear child, a woman is a queen during the entire period nature permits her to enjoy sovereign power--from fifteen to thirty-five years of age.

After that, we are free to have a heart, when we only have that left--" "Oh, oh!" murmured La Valliere.
"Excellent," cried Montalais; "a very masterly woman; Athenais, you will make your way in the world." "Do you not approve of what I say ?" "Completely," replied her laughing companion.
"You are not serious, Montalais ?" said Louise.
"Yes, yes; I approve everything Athenais has just said; only--" "Only _what ?_" "Well, I cannot carry it out.

I have the firmest principles; I form resolutions beside which the laws of the Stadtholder and of the King of Spain are child's play; but when the moment arrives to put them into execution, nothing comes of them." "Your courage fails ?" said Athenais, scornfully.
"Miserably so." "Great weakness of nature," returned Athenais.