Dionysia smiled. She thought she saw light. Then she went on,—
“If that is so, I must beg you, grandpapa, to give me twenty thousand francs in coupon-bonds.”
The old gentleman started.
“You are joking,” he said. “What do you want with so much money? You are surely joking.”
“Not at all. I have never in my life been more serious,” replied the young girl in a tone of voice which could not be mistaken. “I beseech you, grandpapa, if you love me, give me these twenty thousand francs this evening, right now. You hesitate? O God! You may kill me if you refuse.”
No, M. de Chandore was hesitating no longer.
“Since you will have it so,” he said, “I am going up stairs to get it.”
She clapped her hands with joy.
“That’s it,” she said. “Make haste and dress; for I have to go out, and you must go with me.”
Then going up to her aunts and the marchioness, she said to them,—