"Why, a bachelor of the new school."
"Pshaw! I can't introduce you to Madame Herbaut as a young man who is living on the income of the money he saved while in the army. Besides, Madame Herbaut receives no idlers. You would excite her suspicions at once, for the worthy woman strongly distrusts young men who have nothing to do but court pretty girls, for you'll find that her girls are pretty."
"All this is certainly very amusing. Well, what do you want me to be?"
"I haven't the slightest idea."
"Let me see," said Gerald, laughing. "How would you like me to be an apothecary?"
"That would do very well, I should think."
"Oh, no, I was only joking; that wouldn't answer at all."
"But there are some very nice and gentlemanly apothecaries, I assure you, Gerald."
"But really I shouldn't dare to look any one of those pretty girls in the face."
"Let's try to think of something else, then. What do you say to being the clerk of a notary? How does that suit you?"