"You must know, M. le duc, that I am not green enough to tell you my secret before you have given me your word as a gentleman that--" "M. de Ravil," said Gerald, interrupting the scoundrel whom he was strongly tempted to kick out of the house, "this jesting has lasted quite long enough." "What jesting, M. le duc?" "You must understand that I cannot consider such a proposition seriously. Wed under your auspices,--that would be a little too ridiculous." "You refuse, then!" "I have that honour." "Reflect, M. le duc. Remember that saying of Talleyrand--" "You quote Talleyrand very often." "He is my teacher, M. le duc." "And you do him honour. But to what saying of the great diplomatist do you refer?" "This, M. le duc: 'One should always distrust one's first impulse, because it is usually a good one.' The saying is a wise one. Profit by it." "Ah, monsieur, you little know how much truth there is in what you say, and how extremely apropos it is, so far as you are concerned." "Indeed?" "I accepted your counsel in advance, for if I had yielded to the first impulse which your proposition inspired, I--I should have--" "Should have done what, M. le duc?" "You are too shrewd not to suspect what it was, my dear baron, and I am too polite--to tell you--in my own house." "Pardon me, M. le duc, but I have no time to waste in guessing riddles. So you refuse my offer?" "Yes." "One word more, M. le duc. I feel it my duty to warn you that to-night it will be too late,--in case you should change your mind,--for I have somebody else to put in your place. I will even admit that I thought of this other person first, but, upon reflection, I decided that you would have a much better chance of success than the other man. To make the match and get my one and a half per cent. is what I am after, so if you decline my offer, I shall return to my first combination." "You are certainly a very cautious man, my dear baron, and it is a relief to know I shall not have the chagrin of seeing you lose, by reason of my refusal--for I still refuse--the honest gains you are endeavouring to secure by such honourable means. But are you not afraid that I may be so indiscreet as to noise your new industry abroad?" "I should be only too delighted, M. le duc. Such a revelation would be a splendid advertisement for me, and bring me hosts of clients. _Au revoir_, then, M. le duc. I shall be none the less at your service another time." With a low bow to Gerald, the baron left the room as cool and unconcerned as he had entered it, and wended his way towards the Rue de la Madeleine, where his friend, Mornand, lived.