Madame alone preserved an unmoved countenance; but, as she knew how many unpleasant thoughts and feelings her enemy could awaken in the two persons who were listening to him, she smilingly bent forward towards the traveler, as if to listen to the news he had brought--but he was speaking of other matters.

Madame was brave, even to imprudence; if she were to retreat, it would be inviting an attack; so, after the first disagreeable impression had passed away, she returned to the charge.
"Have you suffered much from your wounds, Monsieur de Wardes ?" she inquired, "for we have been told that you had the misfortune to get wounded." It was now De Wardes's turn to wince; he bit his lips, and replied, "No, Madame, hardly at all." "Indeed! and yet in this terribly hot weather--" "The sea-breezes were very fresh and cool, Madame, and then I had one consolation." "Indeed! What was it ?" "The knowledge that my adversary's sufferings were still greater than my own." "Ah! you mean he was more seriously wounded than you were; I was not aware of that," said the princess, with utter indifference.
"Oh, Madame, you are mistaken, or rather you pretend to misunderstand my remark.

I did not say that he was a greater sufferer in body than myself; but his heart was very seriously affected." De Guiche comprehended instinctively from what direction the struggle was approaching; he ventured to make a sign to Madame, as if entreating her to retire from the contest.

But she, without acknowledging De Guiche's gesture, without pretending to have noticed it even, and still smiling, continued: "Is it possible," she said, "that the Duke of Buckingham's heart was touched?
I had no idea, until now, that a heart-wound could be cured." "Alas! Madame," replied De Wardes, politely, "every woman believes that; and it is this belief that gives them that superiority to man which confidence begets." "You misunderstand altogether, dearest," said the prince, impatiently; "M.

de Wardes means that the Duke of Buckingham's heart had been touched, not by the sword, but by something sharper." "Ah! very good, very good!" exclaimed Madame.