“And still less what you will not tell.”

“Madame, all my mission consists in delivering a letter to her highness.”

“Well, then, give me the letter,” said the lady, holding out her hand.

“Madame, I believed I had had the honor of telling you that this letter was addressed to the duchesse.”

“But, as the duchesse is absent, and I represent her here, you may—­”

“I cannot, madame.”

“You distrust me, monsieur?”

“I ought to do so, madame; but,” said the young man, with an expression there was no mistaking, “in spite of the mystery of your conduct, you have inspired me, I confess, with very different sentiments.”

“Really,” said the lady, coloring a little under Ernanton’s ardent gaze.

Ernanton bowed.

“Take care, monsieur,” said she, laughing, “you are making a declaration of love.”

“Yes, madame; I do not know if I may ever see you again, and the opportunity is too precious for me to let it slip.”

“Then, monsieur, I understand.”

“That I love you, madame; that is easy to understand.”

“No, but how you came here.”

“Ah, pardon, madame, but now it is I who do not understand.”

“I think that, wishing to see me again, you invented a pretext to get in.”

“I, madame! you judge me ill.  I was ignorant if I should ever see you again, and I hoped only from chance, which already had twice thrown me in your way; but invent a pretext I could never do.  I am strange, perhaps; I do not think like all the world.”

“Oh! you say you are in love, and you have scruples as to the manner of introducing yourself again to her you love.  It is very fine, monsieur, but I partly guessed it.”

“How, madame, if you please?”

“The other day you met me; I was in a litter, you recognized me, and you did not follow me.”

“Madame, you are confessing you paid some attention to me.”

“And why not?  Surely the way in which we first met justified my putting my head out of my litter to look after you when you passed.  But you galloped away, after uttering an ‘Ah!’ which made me tremble in my litter.”

“I was forced to go away, madame.”

“By your scruples?”

“No, madame, by my duty.”

“Well!” said the lady, laughing, “I see that you are a reasonable, circumspect lover, who, above all things, fears to compromise himself.”

“If you had inspired me with certain fears, there would be nothing astonishing in it.  Is it customary that a woman should dress as a man, force the barriers, and come to see an unfortunate wretch drawn to pieces, using meanwhile all sorts of gesticulations perfectly incomprehensible?”

The lady grew rather pale, although she tried to smile.

Ernanton went on.  “Is it natural also that this lady, after this strange announcement, fearful of being arrested, should fly as though she were a thief, although she is in the service of Madame de Montpensier, a powerful princess, although not much in favor at court?”