CHAPTER XXII.
A FINAL VICTORY.
After a moment's silence, during which Madame de Senneterre sat positively panting with rage at this odious revelation which she could not yet fully make up her mind to believe, viz., that her son wished to marry a music teacher who supported herself by her own exertions, M. de Maillefort said, coldly, and exactly as if the foregoing conversation had never taken place:
"Madame, what do you think of the nobility and illustriousness of the house of Haut-Martel?"
At first Madame de Senneterre gazed at the hunchback with evident surprise, then she said:
"Really, monsieur, this question is most extraordinary."
"And why, madame?"
"What, monsieur, you see me crushed under the blow that has just struck me, or, rather, that you have just dealt me, unintentionally, no doubt," she added, with bitter irony, "and then ask me without rhyme or reason what I think of the illustriousness of the house of Haut-Martel."
"My question is less extraordinary, as you do not seem to think there can be the slightest ameliorating circumstance in the blow that has just overtaken you. So once more I ask, what do you think of the house of Haut-Martel?"
"There is not an older or more illustrious family in France, you most know very well, as you are closely connected with it on your father's side."
"I am now the head of that house, madame."