“How can I be quiet when I hear of such infamies?” He got up in his violence and, after a fashion that caused his companion to burst into a short, incongruous laugh as soon as she heard the words, pronounced: “She shall not break up society!”
“No, she’ll bore herself to death before the coup is ripe. Make up your mind to that.”
“That’s what I expected to find—that the caprice was over. She has passed through so many madnesses.”
“Give her time—give her time,” replied Madame Grandoni.
“Time to drag my name into an assize-court? Those people are robbers, incendiaries, murderers!”
“You can say nothing to me about them that I haven’t said to her.”
“And how does she defend herself?”
“Defend herself? Did you ever hear Christina do that?” the old woman asked. “The only thing she says to me is: ‘Don’t be afraid; I promise you by all that’s sacred you personally shan’t suffer.’ She speaks as if she had it all in her hands. That’s very well. No doubt I’m a selfish old pig, but after all one has a heart for others.”
“And so have I, I think I may pretend,” said the Prince. “You tell me to give her time, and it’s certain she’ll take it whether I give it or no. But I can at least stop giving her money. By heaven it’s my duty as an honest man.”
“She tells me that as it is you don’t give her much.”