"Well," said Maurice, touching his sword, "I offer you your revenge."
"To-morrow, if you like, but not to-day."
"And why to-morrow?"
"Or this evening."
"Why not directly?"
"Because I am engaged till five o'clock."
"Another hideous project!" said Maurice; "another ambush!"
"Really, Monsieur Maurice, you are rather ungrateful!" replied Dixmer. "In truth you are. Here, for six months, I have allowed you to make love to my wife; for six months have permitted your meetings, and have not noticed your smiles. Never man, you must confess, has evinced so little of the tiger in his composition as myself."
"That is to say, you thought I might be useful, and you could mould me to your purpose."
"Without doubt," returned Dixmer, calmly, who ruled his own passion as much as Maurice was carried away by his. "Without doubt; while you were betraying your Republic, and were selling it to me for a look from my wife; while you were dishonoring yourselves,—you by your treason, she by her adulterous love,—I remained the sage and hero. I waited, and I triumphed."