beginning to regret the time in which he used to look and to speak, when,
one fine day while she was at her toilet, at which she had allowed him to
be present, he seized a moment when the maid had left her alone, to cast
himself at her feet and tell her that he had vainly tried to stifle his
love, and that, even although he were to die under the weight of her
anger, he must tell her that this love was immense, eternal, stronger
than his life. The marquise upon this wished to send him away, as on the
former occasion, but instead of obeying her, the page, better instructed,
took her in his arms. The marquise called, screamed, broke her
bell-rope; the waiting-maid, who had been bought over, according to the
marquis's advice, had kept the other women out of the way, and was
careful not to come herself. Then the marquise, resisting force by force,
freed herself from the page's arms, rushed to her husband's room, and
there, bare-necked, with floating hair, and looking lovelier than ever,
flung herself into his arms and begged his protection against the
insolent fellow who had just insulted her. But what was the amazement of
the marquise, when, instead of the anger which she expected to see break
forth, the marquis answered coldly that what she was saying was
incredible, that he had always found the young man very well behaved, and
that, no doubt, having taken up some frivolous ground of resentment
against him, she was employing this means to get rid of him; but, he
added, whatever might be his love for her, and his desire to do
everything that was agreeable to her, he begged her not to require this
of him, the young man being his friend's son, and consequently his own
adopted child. It was now the marquise who, in her turn, retired
abashed, not knowing what to make of such a reply, and fully resolving,
since her husband's protection failed her, to keep herself well guarded
by her own severity.

Indeed, from that moment the marquise behaved to the poor youth with so