But some day you'll repent of the way you are behaving; for I tell you now that nothing on earth, neither gold nor silver, will induce me to return the good thing that belongs to you, if you refuse to accept it to-day." "But, Suzanne, are you sure ?" "Oh, monsieur!" cried the grisette, wrapping her virtue round her, "what do you take me for?
I don't remind you of the promises you made me, which have ruined a poor young girl whose only blame was to have as much ambition as love." Du Bousquier was torn with conflicting sentiments, joy, distrust, calculation.

He had long determined to marry Mademoiselle Cormon; for the Charter, on which he had just been ruminating, offered to his ambition, through the half of her property, the political career of a deputy.

Besides, his marriage with the old maid would put him socially so high in the town that he would have great influence.

Consequently, the storm upraised by that malicious Suzanne drove him into the wildest embarrassment.

Without this secret scheme, he would have married Suzanne without hesitation.