“You, sir! rejoice at it, for your penetration has had the most fortunate results.”
“And your veracity has worked wonders,” added the count.
“It is pleasant to do good, even without knowing it,” said Rodin, still acting on the defensive, and throwing side glances by turns on the count and Adrienne; “but will you inform me what it is that deserves this praise—”
“Gratitude obliges me to inform you of it,” said Adrienne, maliciously; “you have discovered, and told Prince Djalma, that I was passionately in love. Well! I admire your penetration; it was true.”
“You have also discovered, and told this lady, that Prince Djalma was passionately in love,” resumed the count. “Well! I admire your penetration, my dear sir; it was true.”
Rodin looked confused, and at a loss for a reply.
“The person that I loved so passionately,” said Adrienne, “was the prince.”
“The person that the prince loved so passionately,” resumed the count, “was this lady.”
These revelations, so sudden and alarming, almost stunned Rodin; he remained mute and terrified, thinking of the future.
“Do you understand now, sir, the extent of our gratitude towards you?” resumed Adrienne, in a still more mocking tone. “Thanks to your sagacity, thanks to the touching interest you take in us, the prince and I are indebted to you for the knowledge of our mutual sentiments.”