"What! you refuse my offers?"
"I refuse them."
"In heaven's name, have you some ground for hating me? Do you detest me?"
"Not at all, I assure you!"
"Then it must be that what I offer doesn't satisfy you, eh? Well! tell me what you want—what you desire. In short, explain yourself, I entreat you!"
Georgette was silent for a moment, then said in a low tone:
"If I should tell you what I want, you would think me very ridiculous, I am sure."
"Oh! no, no! tell me; women are entitled to have caprices without number."
"Oh! this is no caprice; it is simply forethought for the future.—Monsieur le vicomte, how much do you think it would cost to bring up a little girl, from the cradle till she was about sixteen years old—that is to say, to make a woman of her?"
The young man stared blankly at her, as he replied: