said,

"Do you feel any desire to become pathetical in the country we live in?
I warn you that it will be at your own expense. We must learn to content
ourselves here with appearances, and examine nothing thoroughly."

"'There is then no reality?" said I to her.

"Yes," she answered me, "but only two things, power and money: the rest
is 'leather and prunella' (_contes bleus_): no person has time to love
sincerely; it is hatred only that takes deep root and never dies.
To hope to give birth to a real passion, an Orestean and Pyladean
friendship, is a dream from which you must be awakened."

"Then you do not love me?"

"You ask me a very awkward question, my darling, I can tell you. I do
love you, and very much, too: I have proved it by ranging myself on your
side, and by declaring, with the utmost frankness, that I would rather
see you in the situation in which you are, than any other woman of the
court. But there is a long space between this and heroical friendship: I
should deceive you if I were to affirm the contrary, and there would
be no common sense in giving faith to my words. Every one has too much
business, too much intrigue, too many quarrels on hand, to have any
leisure to think of others: every one lives for himself alone. Mesdames
de Guemenee and de Grammont appear very intimate: that is easily
explained, they unite against a common enemy. But were your station left
vacant, no sooner would the king have thrown the apple to one of them,
but the other would detest her instantly."

Contrary to custom I made no reply: I was absorbed in painful
reflections to which this conversation had given rise. The marechale
perceived it, and said,

"We should fall into philosophy if we probed this subject too deeply.
Let us think no more of this: besides, I have a new defection to tell
you of. Madame de Flaracourt told me yesterday that she much regretted
having misunderstood you, and that you were worth more than all those
who persecute you. She appeared to me disposed to ally herself to you
for the least encouragement which you might be induced to hold out to
her."

"You know very well," I replied, "that I am willing to adopt your
advice. The house of Flaracourt is not to be despised, and I ask no
better than to be on amicable terms with the lady."

"Well, then, come this morning and walk in the grove nearest the
pavilion, I shall be there with madame de Flaracourt: we will meet by
chance, compliments will foll