“My dear Bussy, I came here for country air, not to fight against his majesty.”
“But let me present you to monseigneur.”
“Useless, my dear Bussy, I do not like Angers.”
“My dear St. Luc, you will do me a great service by consenting; the duke asked me what I came here for, and, not being able to tell because of his own passion for Diana, I said that I had come to draw to his cause all the gentlemen in the Canton; I even told him I had a rendezvous with one this morning.”
“Well! tell him you have seen the gentleman, and that he asks six months to consider. Listen, I will always help you to defend Diana, you shall help me to defend my wife. We will make a treaty for love, but not for politics.”
“I see, I must yield to you, St. Luc, for you have the advantage over me. I want you, and you do not want me.”
“On the contrary, it is I who claim your protection.”
“How so?”
“Suppose the rebels besiege and sack Méridor.”
The two friends laughed; then, as the duke had sent to inquire for Bussy, they separated with renewed promises of friendship, and charmed with each other.