"Oh! I am going to tell you everything, madame; I shall be too happy if you deign to be indulgent to me, and to understand that this is only an escapade, reprehensible no doubt, but undeserving of—— Mon Dieu! I don't know what I am saying."
"Speak, I beg you; explain yourself."
"Of course—I believe I am treading on your foot now."
"That's of no consequence."
"First of all, madame, I must tell you that my name is Charles Rochebrune, that I was born in Paris, of respectable parents; I can easily prove what I assert."
"Great heaven! do you take me for an examining magistrate? Why do you tell me all this?"
"So that you may know that I am not a mere vagrant. I had some fortune once, and I still have about eight thousand francs a year."
"Does this mean that you desire to marry me, monsieur? It is my duty to warn you that I am married."
"No, madame, no; I don't say all this as a prelude to asking your hand; but so that you may know that I am not a nobody, a vagabond."
"Oh! I assure you, monsieur, that you haven't the look of one."