As it happened, the family were that day keeping the anniversary of a
family fete. At dessert Madame Planat, the Receiver-General's wife,
spoke with some enthusiasm of a young American owning an immense
fortune, who had fallen passionately in love with her sister, and made
through her the most splendid proposals.

"A banker, I rather think," observed Emilie carelessly. "I do not like
money dealers."

"But, Emilie," replied the Baron de Villaine, the husband of the
Count's second daughter, "you do not like lawyers either; so that if
you refuse men of wealth who have not titles, I do not quite see in
what class you are to choose a husband."

"Especially, Emilie, with your standard of slimness," added the
Lieutenant-General.

"I know what I want," replied the young lady.

"My sister wants a fine name, a fine young man, fine prospects, and a
hundred thousand francs a year," said the Baronne de Fontaine.
"Monsieur de Marsay, for instance."

"I know, my dear," retorted Emilie, "that I do not mean to make such a
foolish marriage as some I have seen. Moreover, to put an end to these
matrimonial discussions, I hereby declare that I shall look on anyone
who talks to me of marriage as a foe to my peace of mind."

An uncle of Emilie's, a vice-admiral, whose fortune had just been