what I purpose doing, Edmee.
And now, practise all your arts on me; lead me on from trap to trap;
rule me with your admirable diplomacy. I may be duped a hundred times
because of my ignorance, but have I not sworn by the name of Mauprat?"

"Mauprat the Hamstringer!" she added with freezing irony.

And she turned to go out.

I was about to seize her arm when the bell rang; it was the abbe who had
returned. As soon as he appeared Edmee shook hands with him, and retired
to her room without saying a single word to me.

The good abbe, noticing my agitation, questioned me with that assurance
which his claims on my affections were henceforth to give him. The
present matter, however, was the only one on which we had never had an
explanation. In vain had he sought to introduce it. He had not given
me a single lesson in history without leading up to some famous love
affairs and drawing from them an example or a precept of moderation or
generosity; but he had not succeeded in making me breathe a word on this
subject. I could not bring myself to forgive him altogether for having
done me an ill turn with Edmee. I even had a suspicion that he was still
injuring my cause; and I therefore put myself on guard against all the
arguments of his philosophy and all the seductions of his friendship. On
this special evening I was more unassailable than ever. I left him ill
at ease and depressed, and went and threw myself on my bed, where I
buried my head in the clothes so as to stifle the customary sobs, those
pitiless conquerors of my pride and my rage.

XIV

The next day I was in a state of gloomy despair; Edmee was icily cold;
M. de la Marche did not come. I fancied I had seen the abbe going
to call on him, and subsequently telling Edmee the result of their
interview. However, they betrayed no signs of agitation, and I had
to endure my suspense in silence. I could not get a minute with Edmee
alone. In the morning I went on foot to M. de la Marche's house. What I
intended saying to him I do not know; my state of exasperation was such
that it drove me to act without either object or plan. Having learnt
that he had left Paris, I returned. I found my uncle very depressed.
On seeing me he frowned, and, after forcing himself to exchange a few
meaningless words with me, left me to the abbe, who tried to draw me
on to speak, but succeeded no better than the night before. For several
days I sought an opportunity of speaking with Edmee,