ve saved for his dowry. Here is the key; it's a patent
key. To-day the poor boy is twenty-one, to-morrow to be married. I did
perhaps hope the father would appear; there was a Marquis coming; he
wrote me for a room; I gave him the best, Number Thirteen, which you
have all heard of; I did hope it might be he, for a Marquis, you know,
is always genteel. But no, you see. As for me, I take all to witness I'm
as innocent of him as the babe unborn.

MACAIRE. Ahem! I think you said the linen bore an M?

DUMONT. Pardon me; the markings were cut off.

MACAIRE. True. The basket white, I think?

DUMONT. Brown, brown.

MACAIRE. Ah! brown--a whitey-brown.

GORIOT. I tell 'ee what, Dumont, this is all very well; but in that
case, I'll be danged if he gets my daater. (_General consternation._)

DUMONT. O Goriot, let's have happy faces!

GORIOT. Happy faces be danged! I want to marry my daater; I want your
son. But who be this? I don't know, and you don't know, and he don't
know. He may be anybody; by Jarge, he may be nobody! (_Exclamations._)

CURATE. The situation is crepuscular.

ERNESTINE. Father, and Mr. Dumont (and you, too, Charles), I wish to say
one word. You gave us leave to fall in love; we fell in love; and as for
me, my father, I will either marry Charles or die a maid.

CHARLES. And you, sir, would you rob me in one day of both a father and
a wife?

DUMONT (_weeping_). Happy faces, happy faces!

GORIOT. I know nothing about robbery; but she cannot marry without my
consent, and that she cannot get.

DUMONT. O dear, O dear! \
|
ALINE. What, spoil the wedding? |
> _Together._
ERNESTINE. O father! |
|
CHARLES. Sir, sir, you would not---- /

GORIOT (_exasperated_). I wun't, and what's more I shan't.

NOTARY. I donno if I make myself clear.

DUMONT. Goriot, do let's have happy faces!

GORIOT. Fudge! Fudge!! Fudge!!!

CURATE. Possibly on application to this conscientious jurist, light may
be obtained.

ALL. The Notary; yes, yes; the Notary!

DUMONT. Now, how about this marriage?

NOTARY. Marriage is a contract, to which there are two constracting
parties, John Doe and Richard Roe. I donno if I make myself clear?

ALINE. Poor lamb!

CURATE. Silence, my friend; you will expose yourself to misconstruction.

MACAIRE (_taking the stage_). As an entire