"Your daughter seems to be more preoccupied than usual."
"And not without good reason; she is about to come to a very serious decision, and at such a moment young girls are apt to be capricious."
I bowed and said nothing.
"You are now a friend of the family," continued Mme. Laroque, "and as such I ask you to give me your opinion of M. de Bévallan."
"I believe, madame, that M. de Bévallan has a very handsome fortune—not so large as yours, but undeniably handsome—about a hundred and fifty thousand francs a year!"
"Yes, but what do you think of him personally, and of his character?"
"M. de Bévallan is what the world calls a perfect gentleman. He has wit; he is considered an honourable man."
"But do you think he will make my daughter happy?"
"I do not think he will make her unhappy. He is not unkind."
"What do you think I ought to do? I am not entirely satisfied with him ... but he is the only one Marguerite at all cares for ... and there are so few men with a hundred thousand francs a year. You can understand that my daughter—in her position—has had plenty of offers. For the last two or three years we have been literally besieged.... Well, it is time we decided.... I am not strong.... I may go any day.... My daughter would be unprotected. Here is an unexceptionable suitor whom the world will certainly approve—it is my duty to welcome him. Already people say that I have filled my daughter's head with romantic notions—which is not the truth. She has her own ideas. Now, what do you advise me to do?"