"Yes," said the duchess. "I am vanquished, Ascanio; yes, I am ready to protect and defend you; but alas! it may be too late even now."
"Too late! what do you mean?" cried Ascanio.
"It may be, Ascanio, it may be that at this moment I am lost myself."
"Lost, madame! how so, in God's name?"
"For having loved you."
"For having loved me! You, lost because of me!"
"Yes, imprudent creature that I am, lost because of you; lost because I wrote to you."
"How so? I do not understand you, madame."
"You do not understand that the provost, armed with an order from the king, has directed a general search to be made at the Hôtel de Nesle? You do not understand that this search, the principal purpose of which is to find proofs of your affair with Colombe, will be most rigorously carried out in your bedroom."
"What then?" demanded Ascanio, impatiently.