thing, I say! A man settles such affairs before he thinks of asking for a young girl&rsquo;s hand. Why! If you had forgotten for ten days longer, you would have been married before your memory returned to you. In my time men did not forget such things&mdash;nor yet what is due to the feelings of an innocent young woman. If I did not respect them myself, I would qualify your conduct in a way which you would not like.&rdquo; </p> <p> General D&rsquo;Hubert relieved himself frankly by a groan. &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t let that consideration prevent you. You run no risk of offending her mortally.&rdquo; </p> <p> But the old man paid no attention to this lover&rsquo;s nonsense. It&rsquo;s doubtful whether he even heard. &ldquo;What is it?&rdquo; he asked. &ldquo;What&rsquo;s the nature of . . . ?&rdquo; &ldquo;Call it a youthful folly, Monsieur le Chevalier. An inconceivable, incredible result of . . .&rdquo; He stopped short. &ldquo;He will never believe the story,&rdquo; he thought. &ldquo;He will only think I am taking him for a fool, and get offended.&rdquo; General D&rsquo;Hubert spoke up again: &ldquo;Yes, originating in youthful folly, it has become . . .&rdquo; </p> <p> The Chevalier interrupted: &ldquo;Well, then it must be arranged.&rdquo; </p> <p> &ldquo;Arranged?&rdquo; </p> <p> &ldquo;Yes, no matter at what cost to your amour propre. You should have remembered you were engaged. You forgot that, too, I suppose. And then you go and forget your quarrel. It&rsquo;s the most hopeless exhibition of levity I ever heard of.&rdquo; </p> <p> &ldquo;Good heavens, Monsieur! You don&rsquo;t imagine I have been picking up this quarrel last time I was in Paris, or anything of the sort, do you?&rdquo; </p> <p> &ldquo;Eh! What matters the precise date of your insane conduct,&rdquo; exclaimed the Chevalier, testily. &ldquo;The principal thing is to arrange it.&rdquo; </p> <p> Noticing General D&rsquo;Hubert getting restive and trying to place a word, the old emigre raised his hand, and added with dignity, &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been a soldier, too. I would never dare suggest a doubtful step to the man whose name my niece is to bear. I tell you that entre galants hommes an affair can always be arranged.&rdquo; </p> <p> &ldquo;But saperiotte, Monsieur le Chevalier, it&rsquo;s fifteen or sixteen years ago. I was a lieutenant of hussars then.&rdquo; </p> <p> The old Chevalier seemed confounded by the vehemently despairing tone of this information. &ldquo;You were a lieutenant of hussars sixteen years ago,&rdquo; he mumbled in a dazed manner. </p> <p> &ldquo;Why, yes! You did not suppose I was made a general in my cradle like a royal prince.&rdquo;