When he made his appearance again in the evening Nana received him with the frigid indignation of a grossly affronted woman.
"Sir," she said, "I have given you no cause why you should insult me.
You must understand this: when I am at home to visitors, I beg you to make your appearance just like other people." The count simply gaped in astonishment.

"But, my dear--" he endeavored to explain.
"Perhaps it was because I had visitors! Yes, there were men here, but what d'you suppose I was doing with those men?
You only advertise a woman's affairs when you act the discreet lover, and I don't want to be advertised; I don't!" He obtained his pardon with difficulty, but at bottom he was enchanted.
It was with scenes such as these that she kept him in unquestioning and docile submission.

She had long since succeeded in imposing Georges on him as a young vagabond who, she declared, amused her.

She made him dine with Philippe, and the count behaved with great amiability.

When they rose from table he took the young man on one side and asked news of his mother.