Diana.  Yes,  I  believe  you  are  right.  The  defensive  has
advantages.
ChanteLi.  I  see  only  one  danger.
Diana.  What  is  it.^

Chantel.  The  delay  which  it  involves,  we  do  not  know
for  how  long.  The  Comte  may  ruin  himself  in  the  mean-
time.   There  the  danger  lies.
Diana.  We  had  better  take  the  offensive.
Chantel.  It  seems  wiser  to  me.
Diana.  Do  you  think  we  might  make  use  of  the  Prin-
cess's lover.''     He  must  already  be  jealous.
Chantel.  I  place  no  faith  in  his  jealousy;  Herr  Rosmer
is  surely  acquainted  with  the  financial  operations  of  the
Princess.  Besides,  a  man  who  loves  a  woman  who  is  above
him  socially,  or  who  permits  her  to  love  him,  is  not  in  a
position  to  be  jealous.  He  offers  nothing  and  accepts  every-
thing, either  because  he  loves  her  so  much  that  he  is  willing
to  forget  his  dignity  and  his  self-respect,  as  well  as  the  pro-
prieties, or  otherwise  he  does  not  love  her  at  all,  and  is
merely  thinking  of  what  he  can  get  out  of  her.  Whichever
it  is,  whether  it  is  love  or  self-interest,  whatever  he  sees,  he
will  notice  nothing.  Love  is  blind  while  self-interest  shuts
its  eyes.    The  result  is  the  same.
Diana.  But  then  .^

Chantel.  The  alternative  is  a  scene;  let  all  the  world
know.  Become  jealous  yourself,  attack  the  Comte  and  the
Prmcess,  drive  her  out  of  the  house — compel  her  to  avoid
appearing  where  you  are.  Then  Herr  Rosmer  wiU  be  obliged
to  notice  it,  as  he  expects  to  marry  the  Princess  as  soon  as
she  obtains  her  divorce.
88  PRINCESS   BEBfi  act  m

Diana.  Suppose  it  leads  to  a  duel?  An  open  scandal
might  drive  them  together.
