What reason did she give for refusing him! None.

Haughtily and disdainfully she had declared that she did not love "that man," and that she would not marry him.
When Savinien heard these details his rapture increased.

One thing especially charmed him: Jeanne's saying "that man," when speaking of Cayrol.

A little girl who was called "De Cernay" just as he might call himself "Des Batignolles" if he pleased: the natural and unacknowledged daughter of a Count and of a shady public singer! And she refused Cayrol, calling him "that man." It was really funny.

And what did worthy Cayrol say about it?
When Marechal declared that the banker had not been damped by this discouraging reception, Savinien said it was human nature.