Guiche colored violently from anger. "What princess are you alluding
to?" he said.

"I am only acquainted with one, my dear fellow. I am speaking of Madame
herself. Are you devoted to
another princess, then? Come, tell me."

De Guiche was on the point of launching out, but he saw the drift of the
remark. A quarrel was imminent between the two young men. De Wardes
wished the quarrel to be only in Madame's name, while De Guiche would not
accept it except on La Valliere's account. From this moment, it became a
series of feigned attacks, which would have continued until one of the
two had been touched home. De Guiche therefore resumed all the self-
possession he could command.

"There is not the slightest question in the world of Madame in this
matter, my dear De Wardes." said Guiche, "but simply of what you were
talking about just now."

"What was I saying?"

"That you had concealed certain things from Bragelonne."

"Certain things which you know as well as I do," replied De Wardes.

"No, upon my honor."

"Nonsense."

"If you tell me what they are, I shall know, but not otherwise, I swear."