"Princess," said the Maréchale, "are you perfect? From the little I know of you I should think you have a very bad temper."
"It is true, it is true."
"Your sins have not been his, but they are sins before God, and have caused suffering to others. If you want God to forgive your bad temper, you must forgive him."
The Maréchale prayed, and bade her look to the Cross and see how Christ forgave. Then she told her again what to do.
"Darling, you are to invite him to your apartments; you are to have a sweet little dinner for him and flowers on the table, and when he comes you are to kiss him."
"But I cannot!"
"Yes, you will; and remember it is no forgiveness unless you kiss him. Forgiveness means kissing. Forgive him, and I know peace will come."
"Very well, I will, I will!"
The Maréchale chanced to be leaving Paris for a time, and said—
"You will send me a wire when you have done it."