"As you have made up your mind, it is of the utmost importance that you should see Mlle. de Beaumesnil as soon as possible."
"Very well."
"This first interview, you must understand, is of great importance."
"Unquestionably."
"The fact is so apparent that I had a long talk with Mesdames de Mirecourt and de la Rochaiguë upon the subject this morning. From what the latter lady is able to judge of Mlle. de Beaumesnil's character, this is the plan we think most expedient; but you shall judge for yourself, Gerald."
"Very well, let me hear it."
"We recognised from the first the impossibility of representing you as a serious-minded and settled man—"
"And you showed your good sense, for I should have proved you a set of base deceivers only too soon," retorted Gerald, laughing.
"Of course there is no hope of avoiding the many censorious remarks which the frivolity of your conduct seems to justify, my poor Gerald, so the best thing we can do is to make everything that is said against you redound to your credit as much as possible."
"Only mothers could show themselves such clever diplomatists as that."