Pendant le long récit du comte, Fabrice avait eu le temps de se remettre : il n’eut point l’air étonné de cet incident, il prit la chose en véritable grand seigneur qui naturellement a toujours cru qu’il avait droit à ces avancements extraordinaires, à ces coups de fortune qui mettraient un bourgeois hors des gonds ; il parla de sa reconnaissance, mais en bons termes, et finit par dire au comte :
While the Conte was telling his long story, Fabrizio had had time to collect himself: he shewed no sign of astonishment at the incident, he took the whole thing like a true nobleman who naturally has always supposed himself entitled to these extraordinary advancements, these strokes of fortune which would unhinge a plebeian mind; he spoke of his gratitude, but in polished terms, and ended by saying to the Conte: