Nevertheless, even in his most suspicious moods, Julien had never dared broach the subject to Claudet.
Every time that the name of Reine Vincart had come to his lips, a feeling of bashfulness, in addition to his ordinary timidity, had prevented him from interrogating Claudet concerning the character of this mysterious queen of the woods.

Like all novices in love-affairs Julien dreaded that his feelings should be divined, at the mere mention of the young girl's name.

He preferred to remain isolated, concentrating in himself his desires, his trouble and his doubts.
Yet, whatever efforts he made, and however firmly he adhered to his resolution of silence, the hypochondria from which he suffered could not escape the notice of the 'grand chasserot'.

He was not clear-sighted enough to discern the causes, but he could observe the effects.

It provoked him to find that all his efforts to enliven his cousin had proved futile.