But I am interrupting you, Citoyenne.

Did your mother advance any arguments ?" "The strongest argument of all lay here, in my heart, Monsieur," she answered him, roused and hardened by his scorn.

"You must see that it had become with me a matter of choosing the lesser of two evils.

Upon reflection I discovered that I was bound to two men, and it behoved me to keep the more binding of my pledges." "Which you discovered to be your word to Ombreval," he said, and his voice grew unconsciously softer, for he began to realise the quandary in which she had found herself.
She inclined her head assentingly.
"To him I had given the earlier promise, and then, again, he was of my own class whilst you--" "Spare me, Citoyenne," he cried.

"I know what you would say.