But, my dear Gontran, an utter stranger to the family could not exercise this power.

Now M.de Croisenois has never entered the doors of the house, and came to me to ask for an introduction." The justness of this remark silenced De Breulh, but Andre took another view of the matter.
"This seems all right at a first glance, but still, after the extraordinary scene that the Viscountess has described, I should like to ask a few questions.

Was not Van Klopen's behavior very unexpected ?" "It was brutal and infamous." "Are you not one of his best customers ?" "I am, and I have spent an enormous sum with him." "But Van Klopen is nasty sometimes; did he not sue Mademoiselle de Riversac ?" asked De Breulh.
"But he did not, I expect, force his way into her drawing-room and behave outrageously before a perfect stranger.

Do you know M.de Croisenois ?" returned Andre.
"Very slightly; he is of good family, and his brother George was much esteemed by all who knew him." "Has he plenty of money ?" "I do not think so, but in time he will inherit a large fortune; very likely he is over head and ears in debt." "And yet he had twenty thousand francs in his pocketbook; is not that rather a large sum to carry when you are simply making a morning call?
and it is curious, too, that it should have been the exact sum wanted.
Then there is another point; the pocketbook was hurled into Van Klopen's face.

Did he submit without a word to such treatment ?" "He certainly said nothing," replied Madame de Bois Arden.
"One question more, if you please.