Chapter 12 - Page 2

inquired, "for we have been told that you had the misfortune to get
wounded."

It was now De Wardes's turn to wince; he bit his lips, and replied, "No,
Madame, hardly at all."

"Indeed! and yet in this terribly hot weather - "

"The sea-breezes were very fresh and cool, Madame, and then I had one
consolation."

"Indeed! 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 a greater sufferer in body than
myself; but his heart was very seriously affected."

De Guiche comprehended instinctively from 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 this belief that gives them that superiority to man which
confidence begets."

"You misunderstand altogether, dearest," said the prince, impatiently;
"M. de Wardes means that the Duke of Buckingham's heart had been touched,
not by the sword, but by something sharper."

"Ah! very good, very good!" exclaimed Madame. "It is a jest of M. de
Wardes's. Very good; but I should like to know if the Duke of Buckingham
would appreciate the jest. It is, indeed, a very great pity he is not
here, M. de Wardes."

The young man's eyes seemed to flash fire. "Oh!" he said, as he clenched
his teeth, "there is nothing I should like better."

De Guiche did not move. Madame seemed to expect that he would come to
her assistance. Monsieur hesitated. The Chevalier de Lorraine advanced
and continued the conversation.

"Madame," he said, "De Wardes knows perfectly well that for a
Buckingham's heart to be touched is nothing new, and what he has said has
already taken place."

"Instead of an ally, I have two enemies," murmured Madame; "two
determined enemies, and in league with each other." And she changed the
conversation. To change the conversation is, as every one knows, a right
possessed by princes which etiquette requires all to respect. The
remainder of the conversation was moderate enough in tone; the principal
actors had rehearsed their parts. Madame withdrew easily, and Monsieur,