"Yes, and it's necessary, she says, that you should be present when she tells it."
"Me? monseigneur."
"Tomorrow she shall be satisfied. Do you see those letters? All of those were sent to me from Paris. They are from the great ladies who regret me; there are reproaches, promises, vows, and a little of everything. Here, throw all that in the fire."
"What, monsieur le marquis, even those which are unopened?"
"Yes, of course; do they not all say the same thing? Ah, a single smile from Blanche is worth all the sweet nothings of these ladies. Why is she not here, near me?"
"If monseigneur desires it—"
"That she may come with her eyes full of tears? No."
The marquis filled a large glass with wine, which he drank at a draught, when he exclaimed,—
"I'm commencing, however, to fear that I sigh in vain; Blanche is near me, in my château, but I dare not—but to employ violence, I cannot resort to that."
"Without employing violence, monseigneur, are there not a thousand ways? She sleeps undefended—and you have double keys to all the rooms."