Marquise. How stupid you were, monsieur.
Duc. True. (Takes snuff.) True, by heaven! I was—monstrous stupid.
Marquise. To think that you could——
Duc. Love her?
Marquise. Forget me, monsieur. Alas, I lose all my pride in—— (Pauses.)
Duc. In——? (Pauses. They smile and she blushes.)
Marquise. In any compliments you may have paid me.
Duc. (Softly.) You won’t forgive me? Well, it’s the fashion now! I must die twice to-day?
Marquise. Twice—die twice! (Looks at him and trembles a little.) I—I had almost forgotten what—where we were. (A fierce shout is heard, sounding nearer now.) Louis, they’ll—they’ll do nothing worse than—kill me? You don’t answer, Louis!
Duc. Yes, yes. There’s no fear—no fear of that.