Love, however, had the same effect on him as it does on everyone,
he longed to speak of it, and after all the struggles which are
usually made on such occasions, he dared to tell her of his
devotion. He had been prepared to weather the storm of reproach
which this might arouse, but he was greeted with a calm and a
coolness which was a thousand times worse than the outburst which
he had expected. She did not take the trouble to be angry. She
pointed out in a few words the difference in their rank and ages,
she reminded him of what she had previously said about her
attitude to suitors and above all to the duty he owed to the
confidence and friendship of the Prince her husband. The Comte
was overwhelmed by shame and distress. She tried to console him
by assuring him that she would forget entirely what he had just
said to her and would always look on him as her best friend;
assurances which were small consolation to the Comte as one might
imagine. He felt the disdain which was implicit in all that the
Princess had said, and seeing her the next day with her customary
untroubled looks redoubled his misery.

The Princess continued to show him the same goodwill as before
and even discussed her former attachment to the Duc de Guise,
saying that she was pleased that his increasing fame showed that
he was worthy of the affection she had once had for him. These
demonstrations of confidence, which were once so dear to the
Comte, he now found insupportable, but he did not dare say as
much to the Princess, though he did sometimes remind her of what
he had so rashly confessed to her.

After an absence of two years, peace having been declared, the
Prince de Montpensier returned to his wife, his renown enhanced