“I am very, very grateful to you, mon cher ,” or “ ma chère ”⁠—he called everyone without exception and without the slightest variation in his tone, “my dear,” whether they were above or below him in rank⁠—“I thank you for myself and for our two dear ones whose name day we are keeping. But mind you come to dinner or I shall be offended, ma chère ! On behalf of the whole family I beg you to come, mon cher