"It is of no use arguing about it, monsieur."
"Do you know what proposition I have come to make to you?"
"No, monsieur."
"If you will send your son to America, I will place a considerable sum of money in his hands, I will direct his operations, and in ten years he will return with thirty thousand francs a year."
"On what conditions, monsieur?"
"On condition that he says good-bye to a certain lady of our acquaintance, that's all."
"And if he refuses?"
"If he refuses—and that is what I expect, I have been warned—a certain agreement between him and me with regard to that lady is null and void."
"Very good, monsieur, I understand! You have a right to do it, and we submit."
"But you can resist; you weren't consulted about accepting my presents, you didn't know the conditions agreed upon between Madame d'Estrelle and me. There is ground for a lawsuit, and I might lose it by means of a little bad faith on the part of my opponents."