"A man is not necessarily a tyrant, monsieur, because he prevents silly boys from making fools of themselves. I am well aware that, nowadays, it is customary to give that name to those who insist that laws and customs and individual rights shall be respected; that old age shall be honored, that children shall revere their parents and celebrate their birthdays, and that there shall be no smoking in a room where there are ladies; if that's what you mean by tyrant, why, I am a tyrant, monsieur, and I am proud of it."
Cherami paced up and down the room, muttering:
"You are trying to make me think it's noon at two o'clock! I care nothing for all that! Once, twice, will you give me Gustave's address?"
"A hundred times, no!"
"Good-day, then! I have my cue!"
And Cherami rushed from the room in a rage, saying to himself:
"If I had such an uncle as that, I'd disinherit him!"
XLI
THE YOUNG WIDOW
For several days, Cherami went every morning and inquired of the banker's concierge if the young traveller had returned; but as he always received a negative reply, he soon tired of repeating the same trip to no purpose, and confined himself to going there once a week.
Meanwhile, time passed, and Cherami, reduced once more to the necessity of living on his slender income, found himself anew without enough money in his pocket to buy a cigar.