But that is not against you; it's for you to
make her change her mind."
"I am afraid it will be hard," said Newman, gravely.
"I don't think it will be easy. In a general way I don't see why a
widow should ever marry again. She has gained the benefits of
matrimony--freedom and consideration--and she has got rid of the
drawbacks. Why should she put her head into the noose again? Her usual
motive is ambition: if a man can offer her a great position, make her a
princess or an ambassadress she may think the compensation sufficient."
"And--in that way--is Madame de Cintre ambitious?"
"Who knows?" said Bellegarde, with a profound shrug. "I don't pretend to
say all that she is or all that she is not. I think she might be touched
by the prospect of becoming the wife of a great man. But in a certain
way, I believe, whatever she does will be the IMPROBABLE. Don't be too
confident, but don't absolutely doubt. Your best chance for success will
be precisely in being, to her mind, unusual, unexpected, original. Don't
try to be any one else; be simply yourself, out and out. Something or
other can't fail to come of it; I am very curious to see what."
"I am much obliged to you for your advice," said Newman. "And," he added
with a smile, "I am glad, for your sake, I am going to be so amusing.
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