"
"But," replied I, quickly, "may dishonor a husband."
"How, madam! What is it you would insinuate?"
"That your wife would fain supplant me, and that she is now the
mistress of the king, although compelled to be such in secret."
"Impossible," exclaimed M. de Rumas, "and some enemy to my wife
has thus aspersed her to you."
"And do you treat it as a mere calumny?" said I. "No, sir,
nothing can be more true; and if you would wish further confirmation,
behold the letter which madame de Rumas wrote to the king only
the day before yesterday; take it and read it."
"Heaven preserve me, madam," exclaimed the time-serving wretch,
"from. presuming to cast my eyes over what is meant only for his
majesty's gracious perusal; it would be an act of treason I am not
capable of committing."
"Then, sir," returned I, "I may reasonably conclude that it is with
your sanction and concurrence your wife intrigues with the king?"
"Ah, madam," answered the wily de Rumas, in a soft and expostulating
tone, "trouble not, I pray you, the repose of my family. I know
too well the virtue of madame de Rumas, her delicacy, and the
severity of her principles; I know too well likewise the sentiments
in which her excellent parents educated her, and I defy the blackest
malice to injure her in my estimation."
"Wonderfully, sir!" cried I; "so you determine to believe your
wife's virtue incorruptible, all the while you are profiting by
her intrigues.
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