"Why, that was a terrible thing to do!" cried Nanon.
"Isn't it a terrible thing that a priest should have a mistress? At all events, that's what I said to myself. My purpose was, therefore, to carry her away, and carry her so far that he would never see her again. I sent word to him of my purpose; but the devil of a man uses arguments one can't resist; he offered me a thousand pistoles."
"Poor woman! to be thus bargained for!"
"Nonsense! on the contrary, she should have been overjoyed, for that proved how dearly Monsieur de Gondy loved her. None but men of the Church are so devoted as all that to their mistresses. I fancy that it's because they are forbidden to have them."
"You are rich, then?"
"Rich?"
"Of course, after all these acts of brigandage."
"Don't speak of it; look you, Nanon, I was most unlucky. Mademoiselle de Chevreuse's maid, whom no one thought of ransoming, and who consequently remained with me, took the money from me."
"I hope that you retained at least the good-will of those in whose interest you acted in putting this affront upon the coadjutor."