Spoiled by the easy victories he had always gained
heretofore, in his career of gallantry, his failure in this instance was
utterly incomprehensible to him, as well as astonishing and maddening.
He could not understand it. Oftentimes in the midst of a conversation,
at the theatre, at church, at the court, anywhere and everywhere, the
thought of it would suddenly rush into his mind, sweeping everything
before it, overwhelming him afresh with wonder and amazement. And indeed
it could not be easy for a man who did not believe that such an anomaly
as a truly virtuous woman ever existed--much less a virtuous actress--to
understand Isabelle's firm resistance to the suit of such a rich and
handsome young nobleman as himself. He sometimes wondered whether it
could be that after all she was only playing a part, and holding back
for a while so as to obtain more from him in the end--tactics that he
knew were not unusual--but the indignant, peremptory way in which she
had rejected the casket of jewels proved conclusively that no such base
motives actuated Isabelle. All his letters she had returned unopened.
All his advances she had persistently repulsed; and he was at his wit's
end to know what to do next. Finally he concluded to send for old Mme.
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