_André_--Wait a little. I have not finished yet. This house where we are must be sold. We must put out of doors these servants, who are just so many thieves; and we will keep at Paris only a very modest stopping-place. _Count_--Will you kindly allow me to get my breath? _André_--Don't stir, or my surgical operation will not be successful. Now that your debts are paid there will be left to you-- _Count_--There will be left to me-- _André_--Forty thousand livres income, and as much for me,--no more; and with all that, during three or four years you will not have the capital at your disposition. _Count_--Heavens, what a smash! _André_--Are you willing to accept my scheme? _Count_--I must. _André_--Very well, then: sign these papers! _Count_--What are they? _André_--They are papers which I have just got from the notary, and which I have been expecting to make you sign while at Dieppe and send to me; but since you are here-- _Count_ [_signs_]--Since I am here, I may as well sign at once: you are quite right,--there you are. _André_--Very well; now as, according to my notions, just as much as you are left to yourself you will slip back into the same errors as in the past-- _Count_--What are you going to do further? _André_--Guess. _Count_--You are going to forbid-- _André_--Are you out of your senses? I am going to marry you off. _Count_--Marry me off! _André_--Without permission. _Count_--And how about yourself? _André_--I am going to marry myself off--afterwards. You must begin as an example. _Count_--André, do you know something? _André_--What? _Count_--Some one has told you the very thing I have had in mind. _André_--Nobody has told me anything. _Count_--Your word on it? _André_--My word on it. _Count_--Explain yourself. You, all by yourself, have had this idea of marriage? _André_--I myself. _Count_--Deny now the sympathy between us! _André_--Well? _Count_--It exists [_putting his arms around his son_]. There, embrace me! _André_--And you accept? _Count_--As if I would do anything else! Translated for 'A Library of the World's Best Literature,' by E. Irenæus Stevenson MR. AND MRS. CLARKSON From 'L'Étrangère' [These scenes, the final ones of the drama, occur in the private drawing-room of Catherine, the young Duchess of Septmonts. Mr. Clarkson, a wealthy American man of business, a Californian, has just received a note from the Duke of Septmonts, a blasé young roué of high family, requesting him to call at once. He has come, in some bewilderment, to find the duke. Mr. Clarkson has only a formal acquaintance with the duke, but Mrs. Clarkson, who resides much of the time in Paris, acting as Mr. Clarkson's business representative, knows the duke confidentially. The Duchess of Septmonts receives Clarkson.]