"I want it from another motive, general," she said to Dermoncourt, in a melancholy tone; "it always calls me Caroline, curtly, and that was what I was called as a young girl; now I regret my girlhood's name, for that of my wifehood has not brought me happiness."
There was a moment's silence, then the duchess asked Dermoncourt if he knew her before the events of July.
"No, Madame," he replied.
"But did you, then, never come to Paris?"
"Pardon, Madame," replied Dermoncourt; "I was there twice during the Restoration."
"What! general, you came twice to Paris and never saw me?"
"For a good reason," Dernoncourt replied.
"Tell me what it was."
"When I saw Madame coming from one direction I took myself off in another as quickly as possible."
"It was not very gallant of you, monsieur; why did you act like that?"