With an effort the Duchesse came back to the present.
“Yes, I am quite all right. I was just wondering which gown you should wear tonight.”
“Will it be a big party?”
“Not big, but I should anticipate that the Marques would not be alone.”
“Why?” Felicita asked.
“Because men like the Marques want always to be amused and most people are bored with themselves and their own thoughts.”
The Duchesse spoke bitterly.
She remembered after the Duc had taken her away, she had shrunk from being alone.
At first she had been afraid of the nights because then she thought of Juan and could not sleep.
She would tell herself that, when he heard of her death, he had been sorry and longed to have her back.
Then she would play with the idea of returning to show him that she was still alive.
He would
