Adhémar was silent for a few moments; but he looked at Nathalie, and his expression was almost sad. At last he said, with a sigh:
"Ah! madame, if I had the good fortune to be loved, I should be too happy! But, no; women are all inconstant, they never love truly; they want to be adored, but they reserve the right to love us only in accordance with their caprice."
Nathalie could not restrain a smile, as she replied:
"You have a very singular way of paying court to one of them!"
"Oh! I beg your pardon, madame, I beg your pardon; I didn't mean that to apply to you!"
"But you were speaking of women in general?"
"True; but, of course, there are exceptions."
"Have you never met any of the exceptions?"
"No, I have not had that good fortune."
"And that is what has given you such a bad opinion of all women?"