Not only will he decline an examination of your accounts of guardianship, but he will beg you to invest your fortune as you think fit." "Really! Daburon, my friend, you are by no means a fool!" exclaimed the old lady.
"If you prefer not to invest your fortune in a life-annuity, your son-in-law will allow you sufficient to make up what you now find wanting." "Ah! really I am stifling," interrupted the marchioness.

"What! you know such a man, and have never yet mentioned him to me! You ought to have introduced him long ago." "I did not dare, madame, I was afraid--" "Quick! tell me who is this admirable son-in-law, this white blackbird?
where does he nestle ?" The magistrate felt a strange fluttering of the heart; he was going to stake his happiness on a word.

At length he stammered, "It is I, madame!" His voice, his look, his gesture were beseeching.

He was surprised at his own audacity, frightened at having vanquished his timidity, and was on the point of falling at the old lady's feet.

She, however, laughed until the tears came into her eyes, then shrugging her shoulders, she said: "Really, dear Daburon is too ridiculous, he will make me die of laughing! He is so amusing!" After which she burst out laughing again.
But suddenly she stopped, in the very height of her merriment, and assumed her most dignified air.