“Why, in heaven’s name?”
“Because if he followed you from Taverney to Paris, you followed him from Paris to Trianon.”
“Yes, that is true, but that is ten years ago; and I wished to know what had passed since the time I ran away, and since he disappeared. When Gilbert loved Mademoiselle de——”
“Do not pronounce names aloud,” said he.
“Well, then, when he loved her so much that each tree at Trianon was witness to his love——”
“You loved him no more.”
“On the contrary, I loved him more than ever; and this love was my ruin. I am beautiful, proud, and, when I please, insolent; and would lay my head on the scaffold rather than confess myself despised.”
“You have a heart, Nicole?”
“I had then,” she said, sighing.
“This conversation makes you sad.”