“Tell me,” replied he, “what does she say? Is she less cruel?”

“Absence is equal pain, whether borne at Versailles or at Paris.”

“Oh, I thank you, but the proofs——”

“Proofs! Are you in your senses, monseigneur, to ask a woman for proofs of her own infidelity?”

“I am not speaking of proofs for a lawsuit, countess, only a token of love.”

“It seems to me that you are either very exacting or very forgetful.”

“Oh! I know you will tell me that I might be more than satisfied. But judge by yourself, countess; would you like to be thrown on one side, after having received assurances of favor?”

“Assurances!”

“Oh, certainly, I have nothing to complain of, but still——”

“I cannot be answerable for unreasonable discontents.”