"Superb! and I regret exceedingly my inability to be the author of it. But you must certainly be able to guess, despite the mystery with which this person surrounds himself."
"No—that is to say, I have some suspicions, which I believe to be well founded."
"Indeed! but it seems that you did not suspect me?"
"Oh, no! not for one moment!"
"That is very amiable on your part."
"You see that I was right."
"But you were not aware of my unfortunate plight."
"What does that matter? as if you would ever have thought of me!"
"That is an extraordinary reproach! It seems to me that I proved to you abundantly that I thought of you in the old days."
"Yes, yes,—unfortunately.—Ah! if one could foresee what is going to happen, if one could read the future!"