"I beg of you, do not call her that. My mother is so opposed to the marriage, that she has not been to Sacqueville-Danglars's mansion but twice in her life, and one of those times she was being chased by a mob of lost démenteurs who had lent my father some money."
"Alors," said Monte Fato, "I am emboldened to speak openly. M. de Sacqueville-Danglars is my banker; M. de Villefaramir has covered me with a thousand courtesies because of a favour I was in a position to render. My Eye, which nothing escapes, perceived in the future, as clearly as in the waters of Quélède-Zarâme or in the writings of Faquieu, a Charadras of dinners and soirées. Now, in order not to appear like Thorin, who used the aid of others to obtain a treasure whereof he then begrudged them the smallest centime, and in accordance with the old proverb that says, Blow pipe-weed smoke into your neighbour's face before your neighbour blows it in yours, I've projected inviting the Sacqueville-Danglars and de Villefaramirs to my abode in Barroue-Don. Now, if I invite you and the Count and Countess de Pérégrin, won't the rendezvous look a little too like an engagement feast, especially if the baron honors me by bringing his martial daughter? Then your mother will have me in a horror greater than any ill-prepared food of shirriferies."
"Ma foi, Count, I thank you for your frankness and accept the exclusion you propose. You are already marvellously in good odor with the Countess de Pérégrin, and now you will be even more in her favour, than Oncle André was with Jadis-Joppelin after the latter conquered the known world with the aid of Oncle André's brandy."
