He had never mistaken gratified vanity for dawning love, as millions of men do.

Or perhaps he was without vanity.

Some few men are so constructed.
"Do you love him so ?" asked Catrina, with a grim smile distorting her strong face.
"As much as you, mademoiselle," replied De Chauxville.
Catrina started.

She was not sure that she hated Paul.

Toward Etta, there was no mistake in her feeling, and this was so strong that, like an electric current, there was enough of it to pass through the wife and reach the husband.
Passion, like character, does not grow in crowded places.