"Now, my dear Clémence, you must confess to being a most capricious little lady; you have regular alternating paroxysms of admiration and violent dislike for the prince; why, a few months ago, I mean about his first arrival here, you were so captivated by him, that, between ourselves, I was half afraid you had lost your heart past all hope of recall."
"Thanks to you," replied Madame d'Harville, smiling, "my admiration was very short-lived; for so well did you act up to your character of the prince's sworn foe, and such fearful tales did you tell me of his profligacy and misconduct, that you succeeded in inspiring me with an aversion as powerful as had been the infatuation which led you to fear for the safety of my heart; which, by the way, I cannot think would ever have been placed in any danger from the attempts of your enemy to disturb its repose, since, shortly before you gave me those frightful particulars of the prince's character, he had quite ceased to honour me with his visits, although on the most intimate and friendly terms with my husband."
"Talking of your husband, pray is he here to-night?" inquired Sarah.
"No," replied Madame d'Harville, in a tone of embarrassment; "he preferred remaining at home."
"He seems to me to mix less and less in the world."
"He never liked what is called fashionable gaiety."
The marquise's agitation visibly increased; and Sarah, whose quick eye easily perceived it, continued:
"The last time I saw him he looked even paler than usual."
"He has been very much out of health lately."
"My dearest Clémence, will you permit me to speak to you without reserve?"
"How comes it that the least allusion to your husband always throws you into such a state of extraordinary alarm and uneasiness?"
"What an idea! Is it possible you can mean it seriously?" asked poor Madame d'Harville, trying to smile.
"Indeed, I am quite in earnest," rejoined her companion; "whenever you are speaking of him, your countenance assumes, even in spite of yourself,--but how shall I make myself understood?" and Sarah, with the tone and fixed gaze of one who wished to read the most secret thoughts of the person she addressed, slowly and emphatically added, "a look of mingled aversion and fear!"