"Nevertheless, let me tell you that, if, instead of loving Louise coldly and philosophically, you had endeavored to awaken her to love--" "Enough, I pray you, mademoiselle," said Raoul.

"I feel as though you are all, of both sexes, of a different age from me.

You can laugh, and you can banter agreeably.

I, mademoiselle, I loved Mademoiselle de--" Raoul could not pronounce her name,--"I loved her well! I put my faith in her--now I am quits by loving her no longer." "Oh, vicomte!" said Montalais, pointing to his reflection in a looking-glass.
"I know what you mean, mademoiselle; I am much altered, am I not?
Well! Do you know why?
Because my face is the mirror of my heart, the outer surface changed to match the mind within." "You are consoled, then ?" said Montalais, sharply.
"No, I shall never be consoled." "I don't understand you, M.de Bragelonne." "I care but little for that.

I do not quite understand myself." "You have not even tried to speak to Louise ?" "Who! I ?" exclaimed the young man, with eyes flashing fire; "I!--Why do you not advise me to marry her?
Perhaps the king would consent now." And he rose from his chair full of anger.
"I see," said Montalais, "that you are not cured, and that Louise has one enemy the more." "One enemy the more!" "Yes; favorites are but little beloved at the court of France." "Oh! while she has her lover to protect her, is not that enough?
She has chosen him of such a quality that her enemies cannot prevail against her." But, stopping all at once, "And then she has you for a friend, mademoiselle," added he, with a shade of irony which did not glide off the cuirass.
"Who! I ?--Oh, no! I am no longer one of those whom Mademoiselle de la Valliere condescends to look upon; but--" This _but_, so big with menace and with storm; this _but_, which made the heart of Raoul beat, such griefs did it presage for her whom lately he loved so dearly; this terrible _but_, so significant in a woman like Montalais, was interrupted by a moderately loud noise heard by the speakers proceeding from the alcove behind the wainscoting.