"If I were in his place," he said with some warmth, "I should be greatly distressed to be burdened by an obligation which my devotion, my gratitude and my services could never remove. You would be even more generous than you are, monsieur le marquis, if you would allow honest Jean Jappeloup to offer you his thanks and his services."
"Monsieur," said Monsieur de Boisguilbault, picking up a pin and sticking it into his sleeve, whether to avoid manifesting a sort of confusion which overcame him, or from an inveterate habit of orderliness, "I warn you that I am irascible—very irascible."
His voice was so calm and his utterance so slow as he gave Emile this advice, that he nearly laughed in his face.
"Upon my word," he thought, "we are a little cracked, as Jean says. If I have been so unfortunate as to offend you, monsieur le marquis," he said, rising, "I will take my leave in order not to aggravate my offence, for I might perhaps make the mistake of asking you to be perfect, and it would be your own fault."
"How so?" said the marquis, twisting his sprig of honeysuckle with an agitation which seemed not to extend beyond the ends of his fingers.
"We are apt to be exacting with those whom we esteem, I would venture to say with those whom we admire, if I did not fear to offend your modesty."
"Are you really going?" said the marquis after a moment of problematical silence and in a still more problematical tone.
"Yes, monsieur le marquis, I offer you my compliments."
"Why will you not dine with me?"
"That is impossible," Emile replied, bewildered and appalled by such a suggestion.