"What is your purpose?"
"I am going to tell you. One thing was to prevent your marrying Madame d'Artelle."
"You said that before when you wouldn't tell me the reason. What is the reason?"
"Because I know why the marriage was being forced."
"So do I—but it doesn't interest me. Although I meant to make Madame tell me many things."
"Probably I can tell you all you wish to know."
"Why do you think I was to marry Madame d'Artelle?"
"To complete your ruin in the eyes of the country, to make you impossible as your father's heir in the event of the plans of the Patriots succeeding. Such a mésalliance, added to the reputation for dissoluteness and incapacity which you have made for yourself recently would have completed your overthrow."
"You don't spare me," he said, slowly.
"There is no need. I am speaking of—the past."