Rememberthatthismonologue，addressedtothePrincessGoritza，wasmentallyutteredwhilehetookapinchofsnuff。
MadameGransonhaddivinedthatthechevalierwastalkingaboutAthanase。Eagertoknowtheresultoftheconversation，shefollowedMademoiselleCormon，whowasnowapproachingtheyoungmanwithmuchdignity。ButatthismomentJacquelinappearedtoannouncethatmademoisellewasserved。Theoldmaidgaveaglanceofappealtothechevalier；butthegallantrecorderofmortgages，whowasbeginningtoseeinthemannersofthatgentlemanthebarrierwhichtheprovincialnoblesweresettingupaboutthistimebetweenthemselvesandthebourgeoisie，madethemostofhischancetocutoutMonsieurdeValois。HewasclosetoMademoiselleCormon，andpromptlyofferedhisarm，whichshefoundherselfcompelledtoaccept。Thechevalierthendarted，outofpolicy，uponMadameGranson。
\"MademoiselleCormon，mydearlady，\"hesaidtoher，walkingslowlyafteralltheotherguests，\"feelstheliveliestinterestinyourdearAthanase；butIfearitwillvanishthroughhisownfault。Heisirreligiousandliberal；heisagitatingthismatterofthetheatre；
hefrequentstheBonapartists；hetakesthesideofthatrector。Suchconductmaymakehimlosehisplaceinthemayor\'soffice。Youknowwithwhatcarethegovernmentisbeginningtoweedoutsuchopinions。
IfyourdearAthanaseloseshisplace，wherecanhefindotheremployment？Iadvisehimnottogethimselfinbadodorwiththeadministration。\"