"I understand your astonishment, poor Dame Marguerite, seeing we have not met since the day of the funeral of Perrin Macé. Oh, Master Marcel's popularity was then immense; people called him then the King of Paris ... they swore by him ... he was looked upon as the saviour of the city——"
"Madam, I beg you to speak less of the past and more of the present.... Make your visit short. What do you want of me?"
"First of all to beg you to forget the little quarrel we two had on the day of the funeral of Perrin Macé. Next I come to render a great service to poor Master Marcel."
"My husband excites nobody's pity ... he does not need your services."
"Alack! I wish I could leave you in that error, Dame Marguerite. But I must tell you the truth, and inform you, seeing you are not aware of it, that you no longer are the 'Queen of Paris' as you were in the days when Master Marcel was the King. Even at the risk of wounding your legitimate pride, I must add against my will that your husband's position has become desperate.... I feel distressed at the sorrow that overwhelms you——"
"Your excellent heart is unnecessarily alarmed, Dame Petronille. Do not mind my sorrow."
"Unfortunately, however, I am certain of what I say."
"Madame, I greatly mistrust both your protestations and your confidences."
"You do not seem to be informed on what is transpiring in Paris."
"I know that there are wicked and envious people in Paris."