"You seem," said she softly, "to be pretty generous in bestowing your acquaintance on strangers.

I should be glad if I might secure you for a dear friend of mine, Dr.Aubertin.He will not discredit my recommendation; and he will not make so many difficulties as we do; shall I tell you why?
Because he is really worth knowing.

In short, believe me, it will be a valuable acquaintance for you--and for him," added she with all the grace of the De Beaurepaires.
Many a man, inferior in a general way to Edouard Riviere, would have made a sensible reply to this.

Such as, "Oh, any friend of yours, mademoiselle, must be welcome to me," or the like.

But the proposal caught Edouard on his foible, his vanity, to wit; and our foibles are our manias.