"Why should my rank prevent the possibility of my being happy?"
"Your Majesty's rank prevents the possibility of your marrying Pauline; and I should hope you would not dare to entertain dishonourable views respecting her."
"Dare! dishonour! Do you remember whom you are speaking to, Edric?"
"Perfectly; for I have not forgotten Roderick, though he appears to have forgotten himself."
"Edric! But I won't be angry with you. When people are in love, they never mean what they say; in fact, they very seldom know what they are talking about. I remember once when I was in love myself—"
Alexis, who had waited at the entrance of the tent during the visit his master had paid to M. de Mallet, and was now following them, sighed heavily at this remark. Roderick heard him;—"What is the matter with the boy?" said he: "Were you ever in love, Alexis?" The page sighed yet more deeply than before, and, crossing his arms upon his breast, bent his head in token of assent.
"It is to be much lamented you cannot tell us all about it," continued Roderick; "for you could never choose a more fitting moment for such a tale; as you may depend upon the sympathy of Mr. Montagu, even if I should be so barbarous as to refuse you mine:—
'We pity faults to which we feel inclined,
And to our proper failings can be kind;'
as one of your own poets says. Eh, Edric! Don't you think he's right?"
"I think you are very provoking."