groan: "I shall have fresh doubts that will never end! When did you lie,
the last time or now? How am I to believe you at present? How can one
believe a woman after that? I shall never again know what I am to think.
I would rather you had said to me: 'It is Jacques, or, it is Jeanne.'"

The carriage drove them into the courtyard of their mansion, and when it
had drawn up in front of the steps, the Count got down first, as usual,
and offered his wife his arm, to help her up. And then, as soon as they
had reached the first floor, he said: "Can I speak to you for a few
moments longer?" And she replied: "I am quite willing."

They went into a small drawing-room, while a footman in some surprise,
lit the wax candles. As soon as he had left the room and they were
alone, he continued: "How am I to know the truth? I have begged you a
thousand times to speak, but you have remained dumb, impenetrable,
inflexible, inexorable, and now to-day, you tell me that you have been
lying. For six years you have actually allowed me to believe such a
thing! No, you are lying now; I do not know why, but out of pity for me,
perhaps!"

She replied in a sincere and convincing manner: "If I had not done so, I
should have had four more children in the last six years!" And he
exclaimed: "Can a mother speak like that?" "Oh!" she replied, "I do not
at all feel that I am the mother of children who have never been born.
It is enough for me to be the mother of those that I have, and to love
them with all my heart. I am, we are women who belong to the civilized
world, Monsieur, and we are no longer, and we refuse to be, mere females
who restock the earth."

She got up, but he seized her hands. "Only one word, Gabrielle. Tell me