"Oh! what can you expect? Such unforeseen little accidents always happen. Indeed, Monsieur Berlingue assured me that those things made the party more piquant.--However, my dear Alfred, during the day I definitely settled upon my choice."
"What! for what? Why, for my wife, nothing else. I absolutely must marry! When a man occupies a certain position, when he has a château--and then, my heart has spoken; oh, yes! it has spoken in a most extraordinary fashion! I have never been in love like this; it is true that no such fascinating object was ever before within my reach. I will bet that you have guessed, Alfred! You must have noticed our understanding. For my part, I confess that I could not restrain myself.--I say, Alfred, what are you looking at out of the window?"
"I am listening to you, I hear what you say; go ahead."
"Well, my dear friend, it is Mademoiselle Cornélie de la Pincerie who has won my heart; it is she who will be my wife, if, as I hope, monsieur le marquis, her father, does not interpose any obstacle to our union."
Alfred left the window, and walked toward Robineau, saying to him:
"It is Mademoiselle Cornélie, that tall young woman with whom you opened the ball, whom you propose to marry?"
"Just so, my friend. She is charming, isn't she?"
"Yes, but one doesn't marry to dance all the time. Listen, Robineau----"
"I have told you that I would not answer to that name."
"Well, Jules la Roche-Noire, or whatever you choose,--listen to me, I beg you. You are a good fellow, although wealth has rather turned your head, and although you are trying to play the grand seigneur. We were at school together, and honestly I should be sorry to see you wretchedly unhappy some day."
"You are spending more than your income, you are running through your inheritance too fast; however, since you are enjoying yourself, I will overlook that; but my friend, take my advice, do not marry Mademoiselle Cornélie; for I am very sure that, if you do, you will not enjoy yourself long."
Robineau pressed his lips together with an air of vexation, and replied:
"My dear Alfred, so many phrases were not necessary to come to that--that I should not marry Mademoiselle de la Pincerie. I admit that I thought that you were going, on the contrary, to compliment me upon my taste. And why should I not marry her?"