"There is neither blasphemous nor obscene language spoken inside my workshops when I am present. If Mademoiselle Fernande deigns to entrust herself to my guidance, I'll pledge mine honour that she shall neither hear nor see a single thing that may offend her eyes or her ears." "But, indeed, _mon cousin_, I am over-ready ..." began Fernande, when Madame la Marquise interposed in her wonted decisive way: "Hoity-toity!" she said. "Here are you young people discussing projects which obviously cannot be put into execution without the consent of your elders. 'Tis I and my brother who alone can decide whether Fernande might go to visit the foundry or not. Nor hath M. le Comte Gaston been consulted as to his wishes in the matter." "My uncle would raise no objections," said Ronnay moodily. "The inspection of the foundry is open to the public...." "'Tis not a case of objections, my son," rejoined Madame with quiet condescension; "nor is your cousin Fernande to be classed among the public to whom casual permission might thus be given." De Maurel frowned and that old look of churlish obstinacy once more crept into his face. "I don't understand what you mean," he said. "Yet 'tis simple enough, my good de Maurel," interposed M. de Courson in his turn. "There are certain usages of good society which forbid a young girl to go about alone in the company of a man other than her father or her brother." "Surely you knew that?" queried Laurent ironically. "No, I did not," replied de Maurel curtly. "Why should not Mademoiselle Fernande come with me to visit my foundries, if she desires to see them?" "Because ... because ..." said Madame somewhat haltingly, obviously at a loss how to explain to this unsophisticated rustic the manners and usages of good society. "I would see that she came to no harm." "I am sure of that, _mon cousin_," quoth Fernande with a little sigh and a glance of complete understanding directed at de Maurel. "I should feel perfectly safe in your company." "Fernande!" exclaimed Laurent hotly. "There, you see?" she said, with a shrug of her pretty shoulders. "_La jeune fille_ is a regular slave to a multiplicity of senseless conventions. Do not argue about it, _mon cousin_, it is quite useless. _Ma tante_ will hurl the proprieties at your head till she has made you feel that you are a dangerous Don Juan, and unfit to be left alone in the company of an innocent young girl like me." "Fernande!" This time the exclamation came from Madame la Marquise, and it was uttered in a tone of stern reproach.