But during the night Etienne had been magnified to her mind; she had made him a hope, a power; she had placed him so high that now she despaired of ever reaching him.
"Will you permit me to sometimes enter your domain ?" asked the duke, lowing his eyes.
Seeing Etienne so timid, so humble,--for he, on his part, had magnified Beauvouloir's daughter,--Gabrielle was embarrassed with the sceptre he placed in her hands; and yet she was profoundly touched and flattered by such submission.

Women alone know what seduction the respect of their master and lover has for them.

Nevertheless, she feared to deceive herself, and, curious like the first woman, she wanted to know all.
"I thought you promised yesterday to teach me music," she answered, hoping that music might be made a pretext for their meetings.
If the poor child had known what Etienne's life really was, she would have spared him that doubt.

To him his word was the echo of his mind, and Gabrielle's little speech caused him infinite pain.

He had come with his heart full, fearing some cloud upon his daylight, and he met a doubt.