I received it from my ancestors without a stain.

May you hand it down to your children equally spotless! Your first impulse was a worthy one, generous and noble; but you must forget it.

Think of the scandal, if our secret should be disclosed to the public gaze.

Can you not foresee the joy of our enemies, of that herd of upstarts which surrounds us?
I shudder at the thought of the odium and the ridicule which would cling to our name.

Too many families already have stains upon their escutcheons; I will have none on mine." M.de Commarin remained silent for several minutes, during which Albert did not dare say a word, so much had he been accustomed since infancy to respect the least wish of the terrible old gentleman.
"There is no possible way out of it," continued the count.