"Monsieur! That's an indignity."
It was his first thought. The girl born during his exile, the posthumous
daughter of his poor brother, murdered by a band of Jacobins, had grown
since his return very dear to his old heart, which had been starving on
mere memories of affection for so many years.
"It is an inconceivable thing--I say. A man settles such affairs before
he thinks of asking for a young girl's hand. Why! If you had forgotten
for ten days longer you would have been married before your memory
returned to you. In my time men did not forget such things--nor yet
what's due to the feelings of an innocent young woman. If I did not
respect them myself I would qualify your conduct in a way which you
would not like."
General D'Hubert relieved himself frankly by a groan.
"Don't let that consideration prevent you. You run no risk of offending
her mortally."
But the old man paid no attention to this lover's nonsense. It's
doubtful whether he even heard.
"What is it?" he asked. "What's the nature of..."
"Call it a youthful folly, _Monsieur le Chevalier_. An inconceivable,
incredible result of..."
He stopped short. "He will never believe the story," he thought. "He
will only think I am taking him for a fool and get offended." General
D'Hubert spoke up again. "Yes, originating in youthful folly it has
become..."
The Chevalier interrupted. "Well then it must be arranged."
"Arranged."
"Yes. No matter what it may cost your _amour propre_.
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