With this parting thrust Madame de Senneterre went to join M. de Macreuse, leaving her son alone, but not without making him promise that he would wait for her return. CHAPTER XVII. PRESUMPTION AND INDIGNATION. When the duchess returned to her son, her cheeks were flushed, and intense indignation was depicted on her visage. "Who ever would have believed it? Did any one ever hear of such audacity?" she exclaimed, on entering the room. "What is the matter, mother?" "M. de Macreuse is a scoundrel,--a vile scoundrel!" cried Madame de Senneterre, in a tempest of wrath. Gerald could not help bursting into a hearty laugh, despite his mother's agitation; then, regretting this unseemly hilarity, he said: "Forgive me, mother, but this revulsion of feeling is so sudden and so very remarkable! But tell me, has this man failed in respect to you?" demanded Gerald, very seriously, this time. "Such a person as he is never forgets his manners," answered the duchess, spitefully. "Then what is the meaning of this anger? You were swearing by your M. de Macreuse a minute ago!" "Don't call him my M. de Macreuse, if you please," cried Madame de Senneterre, interrupting her son, impetuously. "Do you know the object of his visit? He came to ask me to say all I could in his praise,--in his praise, indeed!" "But to whom, and for what purpose?" "Did any one ever hear of such audacity!" "But tell me his object in making this request, mother." "His object! Why, the man wants to marry Mlle. de Beaumesnil!" "He!" "Did any one ever hear of such presumption?" "Macreuse?" "A mere nobody! A common vagrant!" cried the duchess. "Really, it is hard to imagine who could have had the audacity to introduce a creature like that into our circle." "But how did he happen to reveal his projects to you?" "Because I have always treated him with consideration, I suppose; because, like so many other fools I took him up, without knowing why, until the fellow thought he had a right to come and say to me that, by reason of the friendly interest I had always taken in him, and the eulogiums I had lavished upon him, he really felt it his duty to confide to me, under the pledge of secrecy, his intentions with regard to Mlle. de Beaumesnil; not doubting, he had the audacity to remark that I would say a few words in his favour to that young lady, adding that he would trust to--to my friendly interest. I do believe he had the impudence to say--to find an opportunity to do him this favour at the earliest possible moment. Really, effrontery is no name for assurance like his!" "But really, my dear mother, you must confess that it is your own fault. Haven't I heard you praise and flatter this Macreuse in the most outrageous manner, again and again?"