"Don't believe it, my dear aunt; we are standing on a volcano."
"Ah! the cares of the fête weigh upon you. It always seems as if everything were going wrong at the last moment."
She laughed, proud of her penetrations. Genevieve tugged at Maurice's vest as he was about to set the dear lady right.
"Ah! well, I leave you to dress. This evening, uncle, I want to have a chat with you as I have something serious to say to you."
The philosopher and his wife looked at each other understandingly.
"Very well, my boy, I shall be entirely at your disposal for as long as you like, for I can guess…."
And he looked at Genevieve. Maurice despaired of ever making him understand.
CHAPTER XXVI
Everyone greeted the philosopher with delight when he appeared in the ante-chamber where the guests were assembled before dinner. The Duke came to present his greetings to Mme. Darbois and stayed talking to her for some time. He saw that she liked him, but foresaw at the same time that it would be very painful for the good woman to have to accept another son-in-law. During dinner the Duchess steered the conversation towards philosophy, wishing to please François, who was placed on her right—art and science being to her the highest titles of nobility.
"Ah! I am no philosopher," protested the Marquis de Montagnac. "I accept old age only as a chastisement, and not having committed any criminal act, I revolt against the injustice of it."