"M. Maxime," she said, "my daughter teases you a little, but I hope you will excuse her. You must have noticed that she has changed very much lately." "Your daughter seems to be more preoccupied than usual." "And not without good reason; she is about to come to a very serious decision, and at such a moment young girls are apt to be capricious." I bowed and said nothing. "You are now a friend of the family," continued Mme. Laroque, "and as such I ask you to give me your opinion of M. de Bévallan." "I believe, madame, that M. de Bévallan has a very handsome fortune—not so large as yours, but undeniably handsome—about a hundred and fifty thousand francs a year!" "Yes, but what do you think of him personally, and of his character?" "M. de Bévallan is what the world calls a perfect gentleman. He has wit; he is considered an honourable man." "But do you think he will make my daughter happy?" "I do not think he will make her unhappy. He is not unkind." "What do you think I ought to do? I am not entirely satisfied with him ... but he is the only one Marguerite at all cares for ... and there are so few men with a hundred thousand francs a year. You can understand that my daughter—in her position—has had plenty of offers. For the last two or three years we have been literally besieged.... Well, it is time we decided.... I am not strong.... I may go any day.... My daughter would be unprotected. Here is an unexceptionable suitor whom the world will certainly approve—it is my duty to welcome him. Already people say that I have filled my daughter’s head with romantic notions—which is not the truth. She has her own ideas. Now, what do you advise me to do?" "May I ask what is Mlle. de Porhoët’s opinion? She is a lady of great judgment and experience, and besides, entirely devoted to you." "Oh, if I listened to Mlle. de Porhoët I should send M. de Bévallan about his business. But it is all very well for Mlle. de Porhoët to talk. When he’s gone, she won’t marry my daughter for me." "But, madame, from the monetary point of view, M. de Bévallan is certainly a fine match. I do not dispute it for a moment, and if you stand out for a hundred thousand francs a year." "But, my dear sir, I care no more for a hundred thousand francs than for a hundred pence! However, I am not talking of myself, but of my daughter. Well, I can’t let her marry a mason, can I? I should have rather liked to be the wife of a mason, but it does not follow that what would have made me happy would make her so. I ought, in marrying her, to be guided by received opinion, not merely by my own." "Well, then, madame, if this marriage suits you, and suits your daughter equally well..." "Ah, no! ... it does not suit me ... nor does it suit my daughter any better. It is a marriage ... to speak plainly, it is _un mariage de convenance_." "Am I to understand that it is quite settled?"