“Madame is jealous of me!” cried the cardinal.
“We do not say that,” replied the unknown, rather haughtily.
“What are you talking about?” asked Madame de la Motte, who did not like this conversation in German.
“Oh, nothing, nothing!”
“Madame,” said the cardinal to Oliva, “one word from you, and I promise to recognize you instantly.”
Oliva, who saw him speaking to her, but did not understand a word, whispered to her companion.
All this mystery piqued the cardinal.
“One single German word,” he said, “could not much compromise madame.”
The blue domino again pretended to take her orders, and then said: “M. le Cardinal, these are the words of madame, ‘He whose thoughts are not ever on the alert, he whose imagination does not perpetually suggest the presence of the loved one, does not love, however much he may pretend it.’”
The cardinal appeared struck with these words; all his attitude expressed surprise, respect and devotion.