A domestic entering, announced to M. d'Herbois that a person was waiting to see him in his study.
'It is that Pithou,' said he, as he left the mother and son dissolved in tears.
In the study he found his friend Durand.
'My good friend,' said Durand to him, 'as you are about marrying your son, I thought you would like to have this beautiful cameo that I have recently met with. I think it the finest I have ever seen. Look at it; and it is not dear either.'
'To the devil with your cameo, and with the wedding, and with my son too!' cried d'Herbois, beside himself with passion.
'Hey day! what's the matter now?' inquired Durand; 'has Gustavus been getting into any scrape?'
'There is no such person as Gustavus. I have no longer any son; there is only one Pithou; confounded be the whole race! one Peter Pithou!'
D'Herbois then recounted to his friend the sad discovery he had just made.
'Well, well,' said Durand, coolly, 'this is not so bad after all; the matter may be amicably settled; M. Pithou will doubtless listen to reason. He will possibly consent to leave Gustavus the name which he has hitherto borne; and since you possess the affections of the young man, what difference, after all, does it make to you?'
'What difference does it make to me!' replied M. d'Herbois, in a fury. 'What difference? I have lost my son, my blood, my life! They have left me in his stead the descendant of a Pithou! And do you ask me what difference does it make!'