"These people," muttered he, "seem to keep a matrimonial agency as well as a servants' registry office!" "All that is left, then," said the Marquis, "is to arrange the--shall I call it the commission ?" "I was about to come to that," returned Mascarin.
"Well, I will give you a fourth of the dowry, and on the day of my marriage will hand you a cheque for that amount." Paul now imagined that he saw how matters worked.

"If I marry Flavia," thought he, "I shall have to share her dowry with these highly respectable gentlemen." The offer made by the Marquis did not, however, seem to please Mascarin.
"That is not what we want," said he.
"No,--well, must I give you more?
Say how much." Mascarin shook his head.
"Well then, I will give you a third; it is not worth while to give you more." "No, no; I would not take half, nor even the whole of the dowry.

You may keep that as well as what you owe us." "Well, but tell me what you _do_ want." "I will do so," answered Mascarin, adjusting his spectacles carefully; "but before doing so, I feel that I must give you a short account of the rise and progress of this association." At this statement Hortebise and Catenac sprang to their feet in surprise and terror.

"Are you mad ?" said they at length, with one voice.
Mascarin shrugged his shoulders.
"Not yet," answered he gently, "and I beg that you will permit me to go on." "But surely we have some voice in the matter," faltered Catenac.
"That is enough," exclaimed Mascarin angrily, "Am not I the head of this association?
Do you think," he continued in tones of deep sarcasm, "that we cannot speak openly before the Marquis ?" Hortebise and the lawyer resignedly resumed their seats.

Croisenois thought that a word from him might reassure them.
"Among honest men--" began he.
"We are not honest men," interrupted Mascarin.