"In that case, dear love, I will leave you to talk with the baron, to whom I will not say adieu, for I am sure that he will do us the honor to dine with us, and even to pa.s.s a few days with us."

"I ask nothing better, ten thousand cabbages! I will stay as long as you choose; this must be a good place to loaf!"

Thelenie flashed an angry glance at her brother; the words _loaf_ and _ten thousand cabbages_ seemed sadly out of place in the mouth of a Bavarian baron.

But, at a gesture from her, Chamoureau made haste to leave the room, after pressing Herr Schtapelmerg's hand once more.

"Faith, my dear girl," said Croque, when his brother-in-law had disappeared, "there's n.o.body like you for picking up men of this bake!

if you had 'em made expressly, they wouldn't be any better! And rich, very rich, with it all--so I understand. My compliments, madame; a most excellent marriage!"

"There is no doubt that my dear husband must be a great simpleton to believe the fable you told him. You must have plenty of cheek to present yourself as a baron, dressed as you are!"

"I never lack cheek, you know!"

"How did you learn that I was here?"

"We idlers always know everything that's going on. I am sufficiently interested in you not to lose sight of you. I was told that you had made a rich marriage, and I soon learned that you called yourself Madame de Belleville! Very pretty! very coquettish! It was not hard to find out the rest!"

"What is your object in coming here?"

"In the first place to inquire for your health and congratulate you on your marriage; secondly----"

"To ask me for more money?"

"What the devil do you expect? Living's so dear!"

"Have you spent already the thousand francs I gave you some time ago?"

"Oh! they're a long way off. In the first place, I paid debts, settled with tradesmen; that ruined me. I can't bear to have debts! In that respect I carry delicacy to the point of absurdity, perhaps. However, a man can't make himself over, so I never borrow; especially as no one would lend me."

Having satisfied herself that they were quite alone, Thelenie went back to Croque, who had thrown himself into an easy-chair and stretched himself out as if he proposed to go to sleep.

"Listen, Croque," she said; "I am willing to give you money again,--to come to your a.s.sistance, but you must do something for me."

"Whatever you choose, I will do! I am at your service, and you know my talents."

"There are two women whom I hate and detest; one of them is my rival, the other has insulted me; and they live together."

"Very good. Where do they live?"

"Here, in this very village; they occupy a small house--quite isolated; I will show it to you."

"You let me know what you want, and things will move; express train, no stops!"

"Oh! we must act prudently; I don't know yet what I shall do; the main point now is for you to establish yourself in this place."

"Am I not all right here in your house?"

"No; you may come here, but it will be better for our plans that you should have lodgings elsewhere. First of all, to act up to the character you have a.s.sumed, you must begin by dressing differently. I receive a great many people here, and everybody isn't as stupid----"

"As your husband?"

"Exactly. Here are five hundred francs to replenish your wardrobe.

Return to Paris and get yourself suitable clothes."

"Never fear; I shall be superb!"

"And when you speak, don't drop into slang, as you did just now."

"There are some people in the best society who talk slang--as a joke.

It's admissible."

"Don't swear by ten thousand cabbages! that's horribly vulgar!"

"I should say that it was extremely German."

"And then, don't be forever playing the windmill with your cane; you look like a merry-andrew."

"Enough, beautiful princess; I will be perfumed, curled and corseted; in fact, I will be very _comme il faut_ in my dress as in my speech."

"Very good; go back to Paris and come here to-morrow with a proper wardrobe."

"I will be very _chic_. So I don't dine here to-day?"

"No; you will need time to make your purchases, and you must come back to-morrow."

"But what about that dear De Belleville, who counts on finding me here?"

"Oh! don't let that disturb you; I will tell him that you absolutely insisted on going to Paris to change your clothes."

"'Tis well; I go then, and I return to-morrow."

"Yes; and I will set about finding you a little place near by."

"Au revoir then. To-morrow the Baron von Schtapelmerg will do credit to Madame de Belleville."

Croque took leave of Thelenie, went away by the avenue of lindens, and, overjoyed to have five hundred francs in his pocket, could not resist the temptation to play the windmill with his cane.

XIII

THE WARNING

Edmond had been in Paris several days, because he had been led to hope that he would be appointed to a place to which a handsome salary was attached; he had gone through all the manoeuvring that is indispensable when one is seeking employment. And then the place had finally been given to another, who had taken very little pains to obtain it, but who had the patronage of a petticoat.

Edmond returned to Ch.e.l.les, to Agathe, who saw by the expression of his eyes that he had been disappointed.