He is a diplomatist, and nowadays the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the refuge of incompetents." Raising his voice, he continued: "Felicie, for your own sake, as well as for mine, listen to me!" "Well, don't shout, then.

Mama is asleep." He continued in muffled tones: "Just get it into your head that I don't intend that Ligny shall be your lover." She raised her spiteful little face, and replied: "And if he is my lover ?" He moved a step closer to her, raising his chair, gazing at her with the eye of a madman, and laughing a cracked laugh.
"If he is your lover, he won't be so for long." And he dropped the chair.
Now she was alarmed.

She forced herself to smile.
"You know very well I'm joking!" She succeeded without much difficulty in making him believe that she had spoken thus merely to punish him, because he was getting unbearable.

He became calmer.

She then informed him that she was tired out, that she was dropping with sleep.