"On the great news, parbleu! Your marriage."

She turned slightly pale.

"How do you know?—"

"I have seen the duke. He called on me."

"On you? What for?"

"Can't you make a little guess—a very little guess—"

"To ask you if I had been your mistress? Lissac, you are very silly."

"Yes, my dear Marianne, prepare yourself somewhat for the position of a duchess. A gentleman, to whom you have sworn that I have never been your lover, could not doubt your word!—José asked me nothing. He simply stated his determination to see what I would say, or gather from my looks what I thought of it."

"And you said?"

"What I had to say to him: I congratulated him!"