Heaven forbid!" He puffed steadily at his pipe, and glanced quickly at De Chauxville through the smoke.
"No," answered the Frenchman quite gravely.

Frenchmen, by the way, do not admit that one may be too middle-aged, or too stout, for love.

"But she is au mieux with the prince." "Which prince ?" "Pavlo." The Frenchman snapped out the word, watching the other's benevolent countenance.

Steinmetz continued to smoke placidly and contentedly.
"My master," he said at length.

"I suppose that some day he will marry." De Chauxville shrugged his shoulders.