"You have heard my name, my lord, and I am a general business agent." The Count was deceived by the honest accents which long practice had taught Mascarin to use, and he had neither a suspicion nor a presentiment.
"Ah!" said he majestically, "a business agent, are you?
I presume you come on behalf of one of my creditors.

Well, sir, as I have before told these people, your errand is a futile one.

Why do they worry me when I unhesitatingly pay the extravagant interest they are pleased to demand?
They know that they are all knaves.

They are aware that I am rich, for I have inherited a great fortune, which is certainly without encumbrance; for though I could raise a million to-morrow upon my estates in Poitiers, I have up to this time not chosen to do so." Mascarin had at length so recovered his self-command that he listened to this speech without a word, hoping to gain some information from it.
"You may tell this," continued the Count, "to those by whom you are employed." "Excuse me, my lord--" "But what ?" "I cannot allow--" "I have nothing more to say; all will be settled as I promised, when I pay my daughter's dowry.

You are aware that she will shortly be united to M.de Breulh-Faverlay." There was no mistaking the order to go, contained in these words, but Mascarin did not offer to do so, but readjusting his spectacles, remarked in a perfectly calm voice,-- "It is this marriage that has brought me here." The Count thought that his ears had deceived him.