“She must think what she pleases. In the meanwhile I feel sure that if she loved me as I loved her, we should be of one mind.”
“We have duties which seem to press lightly on you.”
“Then be faithful to your duties, and permit a man of honour to respect them by visiting you no more.”
Armelline then appeared. I thought her changed.
“Why do you look so grave and pale?”
“Because you have grieved me.”
“Come then, be gay once more, and allow me to cure myself of a passion, the essence of which is to induce you to fail in your duty. I shall be still your friend, and I shall come to see you once a week while I remain in Rome.”
“Once a week! You needn’t have begun by coming once a day.”
“You are right; it was your kind expression which deceived me, but I hope you will allow me to become rational again. For this to happen, I must try not to see you more than I can help. Think over it, and you will see that I am doing all for the best.”
“It’s very hard that you can’t love me as I love you.”