“I have the honour to remain, &c., &c.”
After this business was despatched, I caused Sophie to be sent for to attend me.
“Well, Sophie,” said I, “you perceive the confusion you have occasioned through your folly. Is it then true that the duc de Villeroi has spoken of love to you?”
“Yes, indeed, madam,” replied the poor girl, weeping bitterly.
“And you return his passion.”
“I believe so, madam.”
This naïf confession made me smile. I continued—
“Then you are not quite sure of the fact?”
“No, madam; for when I do not see him I forget all about it; but when he is before me, so handsome and so generous, so full of love, I try to make myself equally fond of him; but somehow I cannot help preferring his courier, M. l’Eclair.”
These last words completely destroyed all attempts at preserving my gravity, and I burst into the most uncontrollable laughter, which, however, soon gave place to a painful recollection of how soon this young and artless creature, as simple as she was beautiful, was likely to lose this open-heartedness in the hands of her seducer.