“I hope you were rude to him, so that he will not be tempted to come and see you a second time.”
“Rude, no! but cold. You can ask your mother, who was present at the time.”
“I can’t believe that you had not seen him before during the day, when you were out, or perhaps here at home. You tell me now that you have seen him at the theatre because a hundred others might tell me, and you wished to forestall them.”
“But this is a gratuitous insult, unjust, cruel! I do not think I have ever given you reason to doubt my loyalty.”
“I have not the slightest suspicion of any other man who may pay you attention, but with the marquis it is quite a different thing. Before you married me he was deeply in love with you, and you with him; and the affair went a good way, for you were engaged to each other. It was only your father who broke off the engagement at the last moment because he heard the worst accounts of the character of his future son-in-law and of his disreputable conduct. First love always leaves deep impressions.”
“No, my love, had I really loved the marquis I should not have married anyone else, nor should I have believed the accusations they cast at him. I should have waited until I was mistress of myself, and not have given my hand to another.”
“And how long was the marquis in the box?”
“About an hour.”
“Very good, only an hour! Too short a time for a love appointment, and too long for a complimentary visit.”