You see that he fancies himself--vanity of men!--the chosen of my
heart, just as though there were no legal bonds. Nevertheless, I have
not yet got beyond that external attraction which gives us strength to
put up with a good deal. Yet Louis is lovable; his temper is
wonderfully even, and he performs, as a matter of course, acts on
which most men would plume themselves. In short, if I do not love him,
I shall find no difficulty in being good to him.
So here are my black hair and my black eyes--whose lashes act,
according to you, like Venetian blinds--my commanding air, and my
whole person, raised to the rank of sovereign power! Ten years hence,
dear, why should we not both be laughing and gay in your Paris, whence
I shall carry you off now and again to my beautiful oasis in Provence?
Oh! Louise, don't spoil the splendid future which awaits us both!
Don't do the mad things with which you threaten me. My husband is a
young man, prematurely old; why don't you marry some young-hearted
graybeard in the Chamber of Peers? There lies your vocation.