_Marquis_--It's not a question of capacity.

_Baroness_--You're a warm patron of Monsieur Maréchal!

_Marquis_--I regard him as a kind of family protégé. His grandfather was
farmer to mine. I'm his daughter's guardian. These are bonds.

_Baroness_--You don't tell everything.

_Marquis_--All that I know.

_Baroness_--Then let me complete your information. They say that in old
times you fell in love with the first Madame Maréchal.

_Marquis_--I hope you don't believe this silly story?

_Baroness_--Faith, you do so much to please Monsieur Maréchal--

_Marquis_--That it seems as if I must have injured him? Good heavens!
Who is safe from malice? Nobody. Not even you, dear Baroness.

_Baroness_--I'd like to know what they can say of me.

_Marquis_--Foolish things that I certainly won't repeat.

_Baroness_--Then you believe them?

_Marquis_--God forbid! That your dead husband married his mother's
companion? It made me so angry!