He could not trust himself to speak.
"Then," went on Tantaine, "I will take my leave.

Remember, that as you fulfil your engagement, so we will keep to ours." He had laid his hand on the handle of the door, when the Count said,-- "Another word, if you please.

I can answer for myself and Madame de Mussidan, but how about my daughter ?" Tantaine's face changed.

"What do you mean ?" asked he.
"My daughter may refuse to accept M.de Croisenois." "Why should she?
He is good-looking, pleasant, and agreeable." "Still she may refuse him." "If mademoiselle makes any objection," said the old man in peremptory accents, "you must let me see her for a few minutes, and after that you will have no further difficulty with her." "Why, what could you have to say to my daughter ?" "I should say----" "Well, what would you say ?" "I should say that if she loves any one, it is not M.de Breulh." He endeavored to pass through the half-opened door, but the Count closed it violently.
"You shall not leave this room," cried he, "until you have explained this insulting remark." "I had no intention of offending you," answered Tantaine humbly.
"I only----" He paused, and then, with an air of sarcasm which sat strangely upon a person of his appearance, went on, "I am aware that the heiress of a noble family may do many things without having her reputation compromised, when girls in a lower social grade would be forever lost by the commission of any one of them; and I am sure if the family of M.de Breulh knew that the young lady to whom he was engaged had been in the habit of passing her afternoons alone with a young man in his studio----" He paused, and hastily drew a revolver, for it seemed to him as if the Count were about to throw himself upon him.

"Softly, softly, if you please," cried he.