Farewell!" Raoul had sworn never to speak of Louise, never even to look at those who might have seen Louise; he was going into another world, that he might never meet with anything Louise had seen, or even touched.

But after the first shock of his pride, after having had a glimpse of Montalais, the companion of Louise--Montalais, who reminded him of the turret of Blois and the joys of youth--all his reason faded away.
"Pardon me, mademoiselle; it enters not, it cannot enter into my thoughts to be uncivil." "Do you wish to speak to me ?" said she, with the smile of former days.
"Well! come somewhere else; for we may be surprised." "Oh!" said he.
She looked at the clock, doubtingly, then, having reflected: "In my apartment," said she, "we shall have an hour to ourselves." And taking her course, lighter than a fairy, she ran up to her chamber, followed by Raoul.

Shutting the door, and placing in the hands of her _cameriste_ the mantle she had held upon her arm: "You were seeking M.de Guiche, were you not ?" said she to Raoul.
"Yes, mademoiselle." "I will go and ask him to come up here, presently, after I have spoken to you." "Do so, mademoiselle." "Are you angry with me ?" Raoul looked at her for a moment, then, casting down his eyes, "Yes," said he.
"You think I was concerned in the plot which brought about the rupture, do you not ?" "Rupture!" said he, with bitterness.

"Oh! mademoiselle, there can be no rupture where there has been no love." "You are in error," replied Montalais; "Louise did love you." Raoul started.
"Not with love, I know; but she liked you, and you ought to have married her before you set out for London." Raoul broke into a sinister laugh, which made Montalais shudder.
"You tell me that very much at your ease, mademoiselle.

Do people marry whom they like?
You forget that the king then kept for himself as his mistress her of whom we are speaking." "Listen," said the young woman, pressing the hands of Raoul in her own, "you were wrong in every way; a man of your age ought never to leave a woman of hers alone." "There is no longer any faith in the world, then," said Raoul.
"No, vicomte," said Montalais, quietly.