I have been enraged with myself for having been deceived regarding
you: I wish to repair my wrongs. Enlightened by the opinion of
the marechale de Mirepoix, I have not hesitated to approach you
under her auspices, and our first meeting has so happily furnished
me with an opportunity of appreciating you, that I would not delay
any longer the pleasure of making you a personal avowal of my
past sentiments, and of those with which you now inspire me."
The tone in which madame de Flaracourt uttered these words was so
gracious and so persuasive, that I could not resist the pleasure of
embracing her. She returned my kiss with the same eagerness,
and would not listen to my thanks.
"All is explained between us," she continued, "let us forget the
past, and let us do as if meeting for the first time to-day; we
henceforward date this as the first of our acquaintance."
"The affability with which you have presented yourself to me," I
replied, "does not permit me to believe that I have only known
you from this morning; I am in an illusion which will only allow
me to look on our recent alliance as an ancient friendship."
After having exchanged some conversation of the same tenor, we
talked of my situation as regarded the other females of the court.
"They hate you for two reasons," said the countess: "in the first
place, because you have made a conquest which all the world envies
you; secondly because you are not one of us.
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