Delhasse: "The duke will be witness that you were not in your room, madame.

You will not be compromised." I fully expected that an outburst of anger would follow on this pleasantry of mine--which was, I confess, rather in the taste best suited to Mme.
Delhasse than in the best as judged by an abstract standard--but to my surprise the old creature did nothing worse than bestow on me a sour grin.
Apparently, if I were well-pleased with the last half-hour, she had found time pass no less pleasantly.

All traces of her exasperation and ill humor had gone, and she looked as pleased and contented as though she had been an exemplary mother, rewarded (as such deserve to be) by complete love and peace in her family circle.
"You've been slinking in behind my back, have you ?" she asked, but still with a grin.
"It would have been rude to force an entrance to your face," I observed.
"And I suppose you've been making love to the girl ?" "At the proper time, madame," said I, with much courtesy, "I shall no doubt ask you for an interview with regard to that matter.

I shall omit no respect that you deserve." As I spoke, I stood on one side to let her pass.

I cannot make up my mind whether her recent fury or her present good humor repelled me more.
"You'd have a fine fool for a wife," said she, with a jerk of her thumb toward the room where the daughter was.
"I should be compensated by a very clever mother-in-law," said I.
The old woman paused for an instant at the top of the stairs, and looked me up and down.
"Aye," said she, "you men think yourselves mighty clever, but a woman gets the better of you all now and then." I was utterly puzzled by her evident exultation.