since he has the good fortune to please you, that is enough; I
shall not attempt to stand in the way of a felicity which without
doubt I merit more than he. It would be undignified for me to
persist in trying to gain the heart which is already possessed by
another. It is bad enough to have attracted only your
indifference and I would not like to have this replaced by
dislike by wearying you with endless protestations of unwelcome
devotion."

The Duc d'Anjou who was genuinely touched by love and sadness,
was hardly able to complete this speech, and although he had
begun in a spirit of spite and vengeance, he was so overcome when
he thought of the Princess's beauty and of what he was losing by
giving up all hope of being her lover. that without waiting for
her reply he left the ball, saying that he felt unwell, and went
home to nurse his grief.

The Princess de Montpensier stayed there, upset and worried as
one might imagine. To see her reputation and her secret in the
hands of a suitor whom she had rejected and to learn from him
that she was being deceived by her lover were not things which
would put her in the right frame of mind for a place dedicated to
enjoyment; she had, however, to remain where she was and later go
to supper in the company of the Duchess de Montpensier, her
mother-in-law.

The Duc de Guise who had followed them to his sister's house, was
dying to tell her what the Duc d'Anjou had said the day before,
but to his astonishment when he did have the opportunity to speak
to her, he was overwhelmed by reproaches which were tumbled out