"Madam, I beseech you to leave my sister in peace; she has gone,
that ought to satisfy you. We will not, if you please, speak of her."

"I only wish that she would likewise do me the honour to be silent
respecting me. I am not ignorant that she continues to aim her
slanders at me from afar as she did when near me. One might
suppose that the sole object of her journeyings was but to excite
all France against me."

"Madam, you are mistaken. My sister--"

"Continues to play the same part in the country she did in Paris.
She detests me because I happen to have youth and beauty on my
side. May her hatred last forever."

"Ah, madam, say not so; for with your charms you are indeed too
formidable an antagonist; and the more so, as I clearly perceive
you are not inclined for peace."

"At least," said I, "the war on my side shall be fair and open,
and those belonging to you have not always waged it with me upon
those terms."

The duke merely warded off this last assertion by some unmeaning
compliment, and we separated greater enemies than ever.

The first person to whom I could communicate what had passed was
the duc d'Aiguillon. He listened to my recital without any decided
expression of his opinion; but no sooner had I concluded, than he
took me by the hand, and pressing it with a friendly grasp,