"No, not that, for I suppose you see friends here."
"Not a soul."
"Ah! really. How long is it since you had any visitor?"
"Not since I have been here."
"Not one gentleman from the court at Angers?"
"Not one."
"Impossible."
"It is true."
"Then I am wrong."
"Perfectly; but why is not the park safe, are there bears here?"
"Oh, no."
"Wolves?"
"No."
"Robbers?"
"Perhaps. Tell me, monsieur, Madame de St. Luc seemed to me very pretty; is she not?"
"Why, yes."
"Does she often walk in the park?"
"Often; she adores the woods, like myself."
"And do you accompany her?"
"Always."
"Nearly always?"
"What the devil are you driving at?"
"Oh; mon Dieu, nothing; or, at least, a trifle."
"I listen."
"They told me----"
"Well?"
"You will not be angry?"
"I never am so."
"Besides, between husbands, these confidences are right; they told me a man had been seen wandering in the park."
"A man."
"Yes."
"Who came for my wife?"
"Oh! I do not say that."
"You would be wrong not to tell me, my dear Monsoreau. Who saw him? pray tell me."
"Oh! to tell you the truth, I do not think it was for Madame de St. Luc that he came."
"For whom, then?"
"Ah! I fear it is for Diana."
"Oh! I should like that better."
"What?"
"Certainly; you know we husbands are an egotistical set. Everyone for himself, and G.o.d for us all."
"The devil rather."
"Then you think a man entered here?"
"I think so."
"And I do more than think," said St. Luc, "for I saw him."
"You saw a man in the park?"
"Yes."
"When?"
"Yesterday."
"Alone?"
"With Madame de Monsoreau."