“Marius! what an ugly name! what possessed them to name him Marius? While you, at least, are called Théodule.”
“I would rather be called Alfred,” said the officer.
“Listen, Théodule.”
“I am listening, aunt.”
“Pay attention.”
“I am paying attention.”
“You understand?”
“Yes.”
“Well, Marius absents himself!”
“Eh! eh!”
“He travels.”
“Ah! ah!”
“He spends the night out.”
“Oh! oh!”
“We should like to know what there is behind all this.”
Théodule replied with the composure of a man of bronze:—
“Some petticoat or other.”