“Oh, madame! I heard of it yesterday,” said La Valliere, clasping her hands together.
“And did you not foresee this quarrel?”
“Why should I, madame?”
“Because two men never fight without a motive, and because you must be aware of the motive which awakened the animosity of the two in question.”
“I am perfectly ignorant of it, madame.”
“A persevering denial is a very commonplace mode of defense, and you, who have great pretensions to be witty and clever, ought to avoid commonplaces. What else have you to say?”
“Oh! madame, your majesty terrifies me with your cold severity of manner; but I do not understand how I can have incurred your displeasure, or in what respect people concern themselves about me.”
“Then I will tell you. M. de Guiche has been obliged to undertake your defense.”
“My defense?”
“Yes. He is a gallant knight, and beautiful adventuresses like to see brave knights couch lances in their honor. But, for my part, I hate fields of battle, and above all I hate adventures, and—take my remark as you please.”