J. B.—“No, of course not. Ah! you Frenchmen are bad diplomatists. There is no need to ask such questions point-blank ... you can make inquiries ... satisfy yourself.”
Monsieur.—“I am quite in the dark on the matter.”
J. B.—“And if your wife proves to be penniless?”
Monsieur.—“Well, in that case, we must live carefully, that is all.”
J. B.—“My dear fellow, I am very much afraid you are going to make a fool of yourself.”
Monsieur.—“Why, how many times have I heard you speak of marriage as a duty, a sacred institution!”
J. B.—“Yes; but I don’t see why it should not be a useful one at the same time.... For my part, I have a weakness for the Three per Cents, I don’t mind owning it.”
Monsieur.—“And I have a weakness for pretty women.”
J. B.—“You’ll get over it. And if your wife is pretty now, she will not be so always. Englishwomen are not so talented as their French sisters in the art d’accommoder les restes, you know.”
Monsieur.—“I shall have a clever wife.”