"And is that all?" she asked, in a contemptuous tone. "You promise me nothing but money to keep me from starvation?"
"No," said Hardenberg, smiling, "I promise you more than that. I promise that little Frederica Hahn, the watchmaker's daughter, shall be transformed into an aristocratic lady, and that I will procure you a husband, who will give you so distinguished a name that the daughter of the Marquise de Barbasson need not be ashamed of it. Are you content with that, my beauty?"
"Would it be necessary for me to love and honor the husband whom your excellency will give me?" asked Frederica, after a pause.
"Suppose I reply in the affirmative?" asked Hardenberg.
"Then I answer: I prefer remaining Frederica Hahn. for then I shall at least have the right to sit at your feet and worship you, and no troublesome husband will be able to prevent my doing so."
"Well, then, my charming little fool, I shall select for you a husband who will, like a deus ex machina, appear only in order to confer his name upon you at the altar, and who will then disappear again. Do you consent to that?"
"Your excellency, that would be precisely such a husband as I would like to have, and as my imagination has dreamed of—a husband sans consequence—not a man, but a manikin!"
"I shall, however, see to it that this manikin, besides his name, will lay at your feet another splendid wedding-gift, and a corbeille de noce, which will he worthy of you. You accept my offers, then, my friend?"
"No, unless you add something to them."
"What is it, Frederica?"