One of them is married to the owner of the largest india-rubber house in the West." "Ah, you make houses also of india-rubber ?" inquired the marquise.
"You can stretch them as your family increases," said young Madame de Bellegarde, who was muffling herself in a long white shawl.
Newman indulged in a burst of hilarity, and explained that the house in which his brother-in-law lived was a large wooden structure, but that he manufactured and sold india-rubber on a colossal scale.
"My children have some little india-rubber shoes which they put on when they go to play in the Tuileries in damp weather," said the young marquise.

"I wonder whether your brother-in-law made them." "Very likely," said Newman; "if he did, you may be very sure they are well made." "Well, you must not be discouraged," said M.de Bellegarde, with vague urbanity.
"Oh, I don't mean to be.

I have a project which gives me plenty to think about, and that is an occupation." And then Newman was silent a moment, hesitating, yet thinking rapidly; he wished to make his point, and yet to do so forced him to speak out in a way that was disagreeable to him.

Nevertheless he continued, addressing himself to old Madame de Bellegarde, "I will tell you my project; perhaps you can help me.

I want to take a wife." "It is a very good project, but I am no matchmaker," said the old lady.
Newman looked at her an instant, and then, with perfect sincerity, "I should have thought you were," he declared.
Madame de Bellegarde appeared to think him too sincere.