“Doubtless, for there exists an exile, a poor gendarme, who is called M. de la Motte.”
“Oh, countess, what a deplorably good memory you have!”
“I must speak to you of him, that you may not forget him.”
“Do you know why I do not speak of him, countess?”
“No; pray tell me.”
“Because he will speak enough for himself: husbands never let themselves be forgotten. We shall hear that M. le Comte de la Motte found it good, or found it bad, that the Cardinal de Rohan came two, three, or four times a week to visit his wife.”
“Ah! but will you come so often, monseigneur?”
“Without that, where would be our friendship? Four times! I should have said six or seven.”
Jeanne laughed, “I should not indeed wonder in that case if people did talk of it.”
“Oh! but we can easily prevent them.”