"I say to myself simply this: 'After M. de Maillefort's long desertion of me, to what am I now indebted for the novel pleasure of seeing him so often? It must be because I am Mlle. de Beaumesnil's guardian, and because this most estimable marquis has some special reason for again favouring me with his visits.'"
"You are about right, baroness, upon my word."
"What! you admit it?"
"I am compelled to."
"You almost make me doubt my powers of penetration by your prompt confession, marquis."
"Are we not striving to outdo each other in frankness?"
"True; I forgot that."
"And now I, in my turn, will explain why I so suddenly ceased to visit your house. You see, madame, I am something of a stoic, and when anything gives me very great pleasure I suddenly renounce it, so I may not allow myself to become enervated by too much pleasure. That is why I suddenly ceased to visit you."
"I would like to believe it, but—"
"You can at least try. As to the resumption of my visits—"