At the moment the carriage was about to enter the courtyard, Maxime jumped nimbly out.
"You know," said Renée, as she caught hold of his hand to detain him, "we dine at half-past seven. You have more than an hour to dress in. Don't keep us waiting."
And she added with a smile:
"We are expecting the Mareuils. Your father wishes you to be very attentive to Louise."
Maxime shrugged his shoulders.
"What a bore!" murmured he in a sullen tone of voice. "I don't mind marrying, but as for courting, it's too stupid. Ah! it would be so nice of you, Renée, if you would deliver me from Louise this evening."
He put on his most comical look, mimicking the grimace and the accent of the actor Lassouche, as he did every time he was about to make one of his funny remarks.
"Will you, my pretty darling mamma?"
Renée shook hands with him as with a comrade. And rapidly, with an audacity full of a nervous raillery, she answered:
"Ah! if I had not married your father, I really believe you would court me."