M. de Tregars’ situation was somewhat embarrassing between these two women, whose anger was equal, though it manifested itself in a different way. Evidently it was a discussion begun before, which was now continued in his presence.
“I think, mademoiselle,” he began, “that you have been slandering yourself gratuitously.”
“Oh, no! I swear it to you,” she replied; “and, if mamma had not happened in, you would have heard much more. But that was not an answer.”
And, as M. de Tregars said nothing, she turned towards the baroness,
“Ah, ah! you see,” she said. “Who was crazy,—you, or I? Ah! you imagine here that money is everything, that every thing is for sale, and that every thing can be bought. Well, no! There are still men, who, for all the gold in the world, would not give their name to Cesarine de Thaller. It is strange; but it is so, dear mamma, and we must make up our mind to it.”
Then turning towards Marius, and bearing upon each syllable, as if afraid that the allusion might escape him,
“The men of whom I speak,” she added, “marry the girls who can starve to death.”
Knowing her daughter well enough to be aware that she could not impose silence upon her, the Baroness de Thaller had dropped upon a chair. She was trying hard to appear indifferent to what her daughter was saying; but at every moment a threatening gesture, or a hoarse exclamation, betrayed the storm that raged within her.
“Go on, poor foolish child!” she said,—“go on!”
And she did go on.