Madame Arnoux replied:
"Assuming that she is at liberty to marry, he may marry her; when she belongs to another, he should keep away from her."
"So happiness is impossible?"
"No! But it is never to be found in falsehood, mental anxiety, and remorse."
"What does it matter, if one is compensated by the enjoyment of supreme bliss?"
"The experience is too costly."
Then he sought to assail her with irony.
"Would not virtue in that case be merely cowardice?"
"Say rather, clear-sightedness. Even for those women who might forget duty or religion, simple good sense is sufficient. A solid foundation for wisdom may be found in self-love."
"Ah, what shop-keeping maxims these are of yours!"