son--it's all very fine. But, I've got nothing to do with that. It
doesn't suit me. That's all.'

Thereupon the astonished priest represented to him that the scandal must
be stopped, and that he ought to forgive Fortune, as the latter was
willing to make reparation for his transgression, and that, lastly, his
daughter's reputation demanded a speedy marriage.

'Ta, ta, ta,' replied Bambousse, what a lot of words! I shall keep my
daughter, please understand it. All that's got nothing to do with me.
That Fortune is a beggarly pauper, without a brass farthing. What an
easy job, if one could marry a girl like that! At that rate we should
have all the young things marrying off morning and night. Thank Heaven!
I'm not worried about Rosalie: everybody knows what has happened; but it
makes no difference. She can marry any one she chooses in the
neighbourhood.'

'But the child?' interrupted the priest.

'The child indeed! There'll be time enough to think of that when it's
born.'

Rosalie, perceiving the turn the priest's application was taking, now
thought it proper to ram her fists into her eyes and whimper. And she
even let herself fall upon the ground.

'Shut up, will you, you hussy!' howled her father in a rage. And he
proceeded to revile her in the coarsest terms, which made her laugh
silently behind her clenched fists.