And you expect me to believe
all this! No, sir, mankind is not in the habit of indulging in such fine
actions for its pleasure alone. You must have some reason for acting so
grandly; some reason which I fail to see."
"None but what I have already told you."
"Therefore it is understood you intend to relinquish everything;
you will even abandon your proposed union with Mademoiselle Claire
d'Arlange? You forget that for two years I have in vain constantly
expressed my disappointment of this marriage."
"No, sir. I have seen Mademoiselle Claire; I have explained my unhappy
position to her. Whatever happens, she has sworn to be my wife."
"And do you think that Madame d'Arlange will give her granddaughter to
M. Gerdy?"
"We hope so, sir. The marchioness is sufficiently infected with
aristocratic ideas to prefer a nobleman's bastard to the son of some
honest tradesman; but should she refuse, we would await her death,
though without desiring it."
The calm manner in which Albert said this enraged the count.
"Can this be my son?" he cried. "Never! What blood have you then in your
veins, sir? Your worthy mother alone might tell us, provided, however,
she herself knows.
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