"I am an—an American; I was in business, but I have retired; I have money enough to be happy; I am a widower, without children, and therefore at liberty to do exactly as I please."
"Very good, monsieur. And your name?"
"My name is—Dupont."
"Dupont—that is quite a French name; I thought Americans had names more like the English."
"That depends on their origin; my family was French. Now that you know who I am, mademoiselle, will you allow me to pay court to you?"
"I see no objection—provided that you haven't lied to me; for, I give you fair warning, I hate liars!"
Dupont bowed, scratched his head, and rejoined:
"You wished to know who I was, mademoiselle, and I have gratified your wish. In my turn, may I be permitted——"
"To know who I am! Oh! that is soon told: you already know that my name is Georgette, and that I am an embroiderer. I was born at Toul, a pretty village in Lorraine, near Nancy. My parents are not rich, and I have two sisters, both older than I. My two sisters came to Paris in the hope of being better off here and of being able to help our parents, but they didn't succeed. Poor sisters! Then they came back again to us."
"And you have come to Paris in your turn. I am surprised that your parents consented to let you leave them. They might well have been afraid that you would be no more fortunate than your sisters."