"You talk wildly," said she at length, with her former gracious smile. "Only think, Vilma to be a Lady Rety, and after such a scene!"
"Vilma being, as I told you, my betrothed, there is nothing extraordinary in the whole occurrence."
"My father used to say to my brother, 'Whenever you marry, pray don't take a woman who prefers you to her honour; for such a woman is likely to prefer another man to her husband.'"
Akosh frowned. "I entreat you, don't rail at your own sex, by speaking in this manner of a virtuous girl."
"Of course she is a virtuous girl. Master Akosh says it, and he ought to know!"
"Do as you please! Why should you not be allowed to talk of your daughter-in-law in any terms you like best?"
"My daughter-in-law! Are you aware that Tengelyi's noble descent is a matter of doubt?"
"I know it; but when Vilma is my wife she does not want any proofs of nobility. To tell you the truth, that is another reason for me to marry her."
"Tengelyi protests that he has papers by which he can prove his descent——"
"He had the papers, but they are gone. The Tengelyis have no one to rely on but me!"