And yet it was so sweet to me to be with you, to watch you, to listen to your dear voice, and to follow the course of your thoughts as I saw them written in your eyes.

I wished to share your troubles and anxieties, de Sigognac, leaving your pleasures to others.
I said to myself, among all these coarse, dissolute, presuming men that hover about us, there is one who is different--one who believes in purity, and knows how to respect it in the woman he honours with his love.

I dared to indulge in a sweet dream--even I, Isabelle the actress, pursued as I am constantly by a gallantry that is odious to me--I dared to indulge in the too sweet dream of enjoying with you a pure mutual love.

I only asked to be your faithful companion, to cheer and comfort you in your struggles with an adverse fate until you had reached the beginning of happiness and prosperity, and then to retire into obscurity again, when you had plenty of new friends and followers, and no longer needed me.

You see that I was not very exacting." "Isabelle, my adored Isabelle," cried de Sigognac, "every word that you speak makes me reproach myself more and more keenly for my fault, and the pain I have given you.