Chapter 31 - Page 2

One's friends are as one's lovers. Your highness has sometimes
conferred the distinguished honor upon me of calling me your friend."

"Yes, yes,; but you used a phrase which has a very equivocal
significance; you are unfortunate in your phrases."

"What phrase, monseigneur?"

"You said, 'treated with great favor.' What do you mean by favor?"

"Nothing can be more simple," said the chevalier, with an expression of
great frankness; "for instance, whenever a husband remarks that his wife
summons such and such a man near her; whenever this man is always to be
found by her side, or in attendance at the door of her carriage; whenever
the bouquet of the one is always the same color as the ribbons of the
other; when music and supper parties are held in private apartments;
whenever a dead silence takes place immediately the husband makes his
appearance in his wife's rooms; and when the husband suddenly finds that
he has, as a companion, the most devoted and the kindest of men, who, a
week before, was with him as little as possible; why, then - "

"Well, finish."

"Why, then, I say, monseigneur, one possibly may get jealous. But all
these details hardly apply; for our conversation had nothing to do with
them."

The duke was evidently very much agitated, and seemed to struggle with
himself a good deal. "You have not told me," he then remarked, "why you
absented yourself. A little while ago you said it was from a fear of
intruding; you added, even, that you had observed a disposition on
Madame's part to encourage De Guiche."

"Pardon me, monseigneur, I did not say that."

"You did, indeed."

"Well, if I did say so, I observed nothing but what was very
inoffensive."

"At all events, you remarked something."

"You embarrass me, monseigneur."

"What does that matter? Answer me. If you speak the truth, why should
you feel embarrassed?"

"I always speak the truth, monseigneur; but I also always hesitate when
it is a question of repeating what others say."

"Ah! repeat? It appears that it is talked about, then?"

"I acknowledge that others have spoken to me on the subject."

"Who?" said the prince.

The chevalier assumed almost an angry air, as he replied, "Monseigneur,
you are subjecting me to cross-examination; you treat me as a criminal at
the bar; the rumors which idly pass by a gentleman's ears do not remain
there. Your highness wishes me to magnify rumors until it attains the
importance of an event."

"However," said the duke, in great displeasure, "the fact remains that
you withdrew on account of this report."

"To speak the truth, others have talked to me of the attentions of M. de
Guiche to Madame, nothing