He would yield first place to the gringoes for the invention of machinery and ships, and for breeding priceless animals, but all the Counts and Marquises of Gringo-land appeared to him to be fictitious characters.
"All tomfoolery!" he blustered.

"There isn't any nobility in your country, nor have you five dollars all told to rub against each other.
If you had, you wouldn't come over here to play the gallant to women who are.

.

.

you know what they are as well as I do." To the astonishment of Desnoyers, the German received this onslaught with much humility, nodding his head in agreement with the Patron's last words.
"If there's any truth in all this twaddle about titles," continued Madariaga implacably, "swords and uniforms, what did you come here for?
What in the devil did you do in your own country that you had to leave it ?" Now Karl hung his head, confused and stuttering.
"Papa, papa," pleaded Elena.