A young man who was worth so many millions! The last descendant of one of the oldest families of France! No, that could never be.
But at each new obstacle Angelique tranquilly replied: "But why not ?" It would be a real scandal, a marriage beyond all ordinary conditions of happiness.

Did she hope, then, to contend against all the world?
"But why not ?" Monseigneur is called very strict and very haughty, proud of his name, and severe in his criticisms in regard to all marks of affection.

Could she dare to expect to bend him?
"But why not ?" And, unshakable in her faith, in her firm, ingenuous manner she said: "It is very odd, dear mother, that you should think people all so bad! Especially when I have just assured you that everything is well under way, and is sure to come out all right.

Do you not recollect that only two months ago you scolded me, and ridiculed my plans?
Yet I was right, and everything that I expected has come to pass." "But, unhappy child, wait for the end!" Hubertine now thought of the past, and was angry with herself, as she now reflected, more bitterly than ever before, that Angelique had been brought up in such ignorance.

Again she predicted to her the hard lessons of the reality of life, and she would have liked to have explained to her some of the cruelties and abominations of the world, but, greatly embarrassed, she could not find the necessary words.