ring what the
cause of her ill-health and seclusion could be.

"Well, now, my dear Ronquerolles," said the Marquis, addressing Mme. de
Serizy's brother, "you used to envy me my good fortune, and you used to
blame me for my infidelities. Pshaw, you would not find much to envy in
my lot, if, like me, you had a pretty wife so fragile that for the past
two years you might not so much as kiss her hand for fear of damaging
her. Do not you encumber yourself with one of those fragile ornaments,
only fit to put in a glass case, so brittle and so costly that you are
always obliged to be careful of them. They tell me that you are afraid
of snow or wet for that fine horse of yours; how often do you ride him?
That is just my own case. It is true that my wife gives me no ground for
jealousy, but my marriage is purely ornamental business; if you think
that I am a married man, you are grossly mistaken. So there is some
excuse for my unfaithfulness. I should dearly like to know what you
gentlemen who laugh at me would do in my place. Not many men would be so
considerate as I am. I am sure," (here he lowered his voice) "that Mme.
d'Aiglemont suspects nothing. And then, of course, I have no right to
complain at all; I am very well off. Only there is nothing more trying
for a man who feels things than the sight of suffering in a poor
creature to whom you are attached----"

"You must have a very sensitive nature, then," said M. de Ronquerolles,
"for you are not often at home."

Laughter followed on the friendly epigram; but Arthur, who made one of
the group, maintained a frigid imperturbability in his quality of an
English gentleman who takes gravity for the very basis of his being.
D'Aiglemont's eccentric confidence, no doubt, had kindled some kind of
hope in Arthur, for he stood patiently awaiting an opportunity of a word
with the Marquis. He had not to wait long.

"My Lord Marquis," he said, "I am unspeakably pained to see the state of
Mme. d'Aiglemont's health. I do not think that you would talk jestingly
about it if you knew that unless she adopts a certain course of
treatment she must die miserably. If I use this language to you, it is
because I am in a manner justified in using it, for I am quite certain
that I can save Mme. d'Aiglemont's life and restore her to health
and happiness. It is odd, no doubt, that a man of my rank should be
a physician, yet nevertheless chance determined that I should study
medicine. I find life dull