"M. le duc, I came to call your attention to a very promising business matter." "I am not in business." "Would you like to marry, M. le duc?" "Monsieur," said Gerald, haughtily, "this question--" "Excuse me, M. le duc, I called here in your interest, and necessarily, also, in my own. Will you consequently have the kindness to listen to me? What do you risk by doing so? I ask only ten minutes." "I am listening, monsieur," replied Gerald, whose curiosity had been aroused by the baron's question. "I ask once more, then, M. le duc: 'Would you like to marry?' I must have a reply before continuing the conversation." "But monsieur, I--" "Pardon me, I did not make my question explicit enough. Would you like to make a fabulously rich marriage, M. le duc?" "Has M. de Ravil any particular person in view?" "Possibly." "But you are a bachelor and a society man. Why do you not marry the lady yourself?" "I have no fortune, monsieur; my name is comparatively insignificant; my appearance by no means prepossessing. In short, there isn't the slightest chance of my making such a marriage, so I thought of you, M. le duc." "I am greatly obliged to you for your generosity, monsieur, but before we go any further, permit me to ask you a rather delicate question. I would not like to wound your feelings, you know, but--" "I'm not at all sensitive." "I thought as much. Ah, well, what remuneration do you expect for your generous interest?" "I ask one and a half per cent. of the dowry," answered the cynic, boldly. And perceiving the disgust and contempt which his words had excited, the baron said, coolly: "I thought I gave you clearly to understand that it was a purely business transaction." "That is true, monsieur." "Then what is the use of mincing matters?" "None at all," replied Gerald, controlling himself; "so I will say very plainly that this charge of one and a half per cent. of the dowry seems to me quite reasonable." "Yes, isn't it?" "Certainly, but I must know to whom you think of marrying me, and how you will manage to bring the match about." "You are very fond of hunting, I believe, M. le duc." "Yes." "And you are an adept at it, I am told." "Yes." "Well, when your pointer or your setter have made a sure stand, they have done their duty, have they not? The rest depends upon the accuracy of your aim and the quickness of your fire." "If you mean by that, monsieur, that, when you have once told me there is a rich heiress in the market, your one and a half per cent. is earned, I--" "Pardon me, M. le duc, I am too good a business man to come to you with any such proposition as that. In short, I stand ready to place you in a position which is not only admirable in every respect, but entirely inaccessible to any other person. Your own personal attractions and your illustrious name will easily do the rest." "And this position?"