"You may tell this," continued the Count, "to those by whom you are
employed."

"Excuse me, my lord--"

"But what?"

"I cannot allow--"

"I have nothing more to say; all will be settled as I promised, when I
pay my daughter's dowry. You are aware that she will shortly be united
to M. de Breulh-Faverlay."

There was no mistaking the order to go, contained in these words,
but Mascarin did not offer to do so, but readjusting his spectacles,
remarked in a perfectly calm voice,--

"It is this marriage that has brought me here."

The Count thought that his ears had deceived him. "What are you saying?"
said he.

"I say," repeated the agent, "that I am sent to you in connection with
this same marriage."

Neither the doctor nor Florestan had exaggerated the violence of the
Count's temper. Upon hearing his daughter's name and marriage mentioned
by this man, his face grew crimson and his eyes gleamed with a lurid
fire.