Bertha's husband allowed himself to be led into the most foolish hopes by reflecting that, by dint of persistance, he had obtained a rendezvous with a woman who combined so many charms with so much dignity; so many graces with an elevated position in society; which latter, in the eyes of De Brévannes, was by no means the least of the princess's attractions.
"Full of hope and love, M. de Brévannes approached Paula."
Full of hope and love, he approached Paula, saying, as he did so, respectfully,—
"Madame, with what impatience I have awaited this moment—how deep is my obligation for its concession—for such extreme kindness to me!"
"You know better than any one else, sir, by whom such a step is imposed upon me," said Madame de Hansfeld, alluding to De Brévannes' threats.
"I understand you, madame," said De Brévannes; "but if you knew into what a distracted state an ardent passion felt for many years can throw you!—Oh! how often have I remembered with rapture the time when I saw you every day—when, under the guise of the love I feigned for your aunt——"
"Enough, sir, enough; you did not, unquestionably, request this interview to talk to me of the past, and which for so many reasons you ought to forget."
"Forget!—can I ever forget? This recollection has effaced every other memory in my life."
"Deign to answer me, sir! When you persisted so obstinately in requesting this interview, what was your object?"