Her weapon was irony; and knowing his weak points, she struck with wonderful precision.
It is easy to understand how devoutly he prayed and hoped that some honest young man, by speedily marrying his daughter, would free him from this cruel bondage.
But where was he to find this liberator?
The marquis had announced everywhere his intention of bestowing a dowry of a million upon his daughter.

Of course this had brought a host of eager suitors, not only from the immediate neighborhood, but from parts remote.
But, unfortunately, though many of them would have suited M.de Courtornieu well enough, not a single one had been so fortunate as to please Mlle.

Blanche.
Her father presented some suitor; she received him graciously, lavished all her charms upon him; but as soon as his back was turned, she disappointed all her father's hopes by rejecting him.
"He is too small," she said, "or too large.

His rank is not equal to ours.

I think him stupid.