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the pain he had caused her。 Louise； I was that child； and such as I
was then； I am now。 Here is the key to my character； which your slave
in all humility places in your hands。
But do not fear； there will be no more stumbling。 Keep tight the chain
which binds me to you； so that a touch may communicate your lightest
wish to him who will ever remain your slave；
FELIPE。
XXIV
LOUISE DE CHAULIEU TO RENEE DE L'ESTORADE
October。
My dear friend；How is it possible that you； who brought yourself in
two months to marry a broken…down invalid in order to mother him；
should know anything of that terrible shifting drama； enacted in the
recesses of the heart； which we call lovea drama where death lies in
a glance or a light reply？
I had reserved for Felipe one last supreme test which was to be
decisive。 I wanted to know whether his love was the love of a Royalist
for his King； who can do no wrong。 Why should the loyalty of a
Catholic be less supreme？
He walked with me a whole night under the limes at the bottom of the
garden； and not a shadow of suspicion crossed his soul。 Next day he
loved me better； but the feeling was as reverent； as humble； as
regretful as ever； he had not presumed an iota。 Oh！ he is a very
Spaniard； a very Abencerrage。 He scaled my wall to come and kiss the
hand which in the darkness I reached down to him from my balcony。 He
might have broken his neck； how many of our young men would do the
like？
But all this is nothing； Christians suffer the horrible pangs of
martyrdom in the hope of heaven。 The day before yesterday I took aside
the royal ambassador…to…be at the court of Spain； my much respected
father； and said to him with a smile：
〃Sir； some of your friends will have it that you are marrying your
dear Armande to the nephew of an ambassador who has been very anxious
for this connection； and has long begged for it。 Also； that the
marriage…contract arranges for his nephew to succeed on his death to
his enormous fortune and his title； and bestows on the young couple in
the meantime an income of a hundred thousand livres； on the bride a
dowry of eight hundred thousand francs。 Your daughter weeps； but bows
to the unquestioned authority of her honored parent。 Some people are
unkind enough to say that； behind her tears； she conceals a worldly
and ambitious soul。
〃Now； we are going to the gentleman's box at the Opera to…night； and
M。 le Baron de Macumer will visit us there。〃
〃Macumer needs a touch of the spur then；〃 said my father； smiling at
me； as though I were a female ambassador。
〃You mistake Clarissa Harlowe for Figaro！〃 I cried； with a glance of
scorn and mockery。 〃When you see me with my right hand ungloved； you
will give the lie to this impertinent gossip； and will mark your
displeasure at it。〃
〃I may make my mind easy about your future。 You have no more got a
girl's headpiece than Jeanne d'Arc had a woman's heart。 You will be
happy； you will love nobody； and will allow yourself to be loved。〃
This was too much。 I burst into laughter。
〃What is it； little flirt？〃 he said。
〃I tremble for my country's interests 。 。 。〃
And seeing him look quite blank； I added：
〃At Madrid！〃
〃You have no idea how this little nun has learned； in a year's time；
to make fun of her father；〃 he said to the Duchess。
〃Armande makes light of everything；〃 my mother replied； looking me in
the face。
〃What do you mean？〃 I asked。
〃Why； you are not even afraid of rheumatism on these damp nights；〃 she
said； with another meaning glance at me。
〃Oh！〃 I answered； 〃the mornings are so hot！〃
The Duchess looked down。
〃It's high time she were married；〃 said my father； 〃and it had better
be before I go。〃
〃If you wish it；〃 I replied demurely。
Two hours later； my mother and I； the Duchesse de Maufrigneuse and
Mme。 d'Espard； were all four blooming like roses in the front of the
box。 I had seated myself sideways； giving only a shoulder to the
house； so that I could see everything； myself unseen； in that spacious
box which fills one of the two angles at the back of the hall； between
the columns。
Macumer came； stood up； and put his opera…glasses before his eyes so
that he might be able to look at me comfortably。
In the first interval entered the young man whom I call 〃king of the
profligates。〃 The Comte Henri de Marsay； who has great beauty of an
effeminate kind； entered the box with an epigram in his eyes； a smile
upon his lips； and an air of satisfaction over his whole countenance。
He first greeted my mother； Mme。 d'Espard； and the Duchesse de
Maufrigneuse； the Comte d'Esgrignon； and M。 de Canalis； then turning
to me； he said：
〃I do not know whether I shall be the first to congratulate you on an
event which will make you the object of envy to many。〃
〃Ah！ a marriage！〃 I cried。 〃Is it left for me； a girl fresh from the
convent； to tell you that predicted marriages never come off。〃
M。 de Marsay bent down； whispering to Macumer； and I was convinced；
from the movement of his lips； that what he said was this：
〃Baron； you are perhaps in love with that little coquette； who has
used you for her own ends； but as the question is one not of love； but
of marriage； it is as well for you to know what is going on。〃
Macumer treated this officious scandal…monger to one of those glances
of his which seem to me so eloquent of noble scorn； and replied to the
effect that he was 〃not in love with any little coquette。〃 His whole
bearing so delighted me； that directly I caught sight of my father；
the glove was off。
Felipe had not a shadow of fear or doubt。 How well did he bear out my
expectations！ His faith is only in me； society cannot hurt him with
its lies。 Not a muscle of the Arab's face stirred； not a drop of the
blue blood flushed his olive cheek。
The two young counts went out； and I said； laughing； to Macumer：
〃M。 de Marsay has been treating you to an epigram on me。〃
〃He did more；〃 he replied。 〃It was an epithalamium。〃
〃You speak Greek to me；〃 I said； rewarding him with a smile and a
certain look which always embarrasses him。
My father meantime was talking to Mme。 de Maufrigneuse。
〃I should think so！〃 he exclaimed。 〃The gossip which gets about is
scandalous。 No sooner has a girl come out than everyone is keen to
marry her； and the ridiculous stories that are invented！ I shall never
force Armande to marry against her will。 I am going to take a turn in
the promenade； otherwise people will be saying that I allowed the
rumor to spread in order to suggest the marriage to the ambassador；
and Caesar's daughter ought to be above suspicion； even more than his
wifeif that were possible。〃
The Duchesse de Maufrigneuse and Mme。 d'Espard shot glances first at
my mother； then at the Baron； brimming over with sly intelligence and
repressed curiosity。 With their serpent's cunning they had at last got
an inkling of something going on。 Of all mysteries in life； love is
the least mysterious！ It exhales from women； I believe； like a
perfume； and she who can conceal it is a very monster！ Our eyes
prattle even more than our tongues。
Having enjoyed the delightful sensation of finding Felipe rise to the
occas