“Why, yes; to a rich wife.”

“To whom?”

“My dear boy, he is picking up all your leavings; he is going to marry Mademoiselle Lorinet.”

“He was always enterprising! But, uncle, it wasn’t with him you were engaged yesterday evening?”

“Why not, pray?”

“You told Madeleine to admit a gentleman with a decoration.”

“He has one.”

“Good heavens! What is it?”

“The Nicham Iftikar, if it please you.”

[A Tunisian order, which can be obtained for a very moderate sum.]