"Hem—hem—so so, indifferently—"
"Indeed? Only so so? Well, so much the worse, my dear Monsieur Lebrenn! That must go against your grain—because I presume you have a family to maintain?"
"You are very considerate, monsieur. I have a son."
"And are you bringing him up to be your successor?"
"That's it, monsieur! He attends the Central School of Commerce."
"How old is the fine fellow? You have only one son, my dear Monsieur Lebrenn?"
"Begging your pardon for contradicting you, I also have a daughter."
"A daughter also! The dear Lebrenn! If she at all looks like her mother she must be a charming girl—"
"Eh! Eh!—she is slender—she is comely—"
"You must be proud of her. Come, confess it!"