But I beg pardon--I'm getting beside myself." He ceased speaking, and silence reigned while Muffat sought how to broach his announcement gently.

But he failed and, in order to get out of his difficulty the more quickly, ended by an abrupt announcement: "Nana wants the duchess's part." Bordenave gave a start and shouted: "Come now, it's sheer madness!" Then looking at the count and finding him so pale and so shaken, he was calm at once.
"Devil take it!" he said simply.
And with that there ensued a fresh silence.

At bottom he didn't care a pin about it.

That great thing Nana playing the duchess might possibly prove amusing! Besides, now that this had happened he had Muffat well in his grasp.

Accordingly he was not long in coming to a decision, and so he turned round and called out: "Fauchery!" The count had been on the point of stopping him.