"Yes, monsieur. At first, when she read your letter--she read it here in my lodge--she shook her head like a person who ain't quite convinced. What can you expect? she's suspicious, poor girl! Well! just hear me call her a girl, will you! what a stupid! The poor woman has good cause for that. A scalded cat's afraid of cold water--mine all are; I can punish 'em more, monsieur, by throwing two or three drops of water in their faces than if I took a stick to 'em." "You were saying that when Madame Landernoy read my letter she did not seem fully convinced of the honesty of my intentions?" "There was a little doubt left in her mind; but then she says: 'I may as well do this work, as that gentleman will come here to get it.'" "So that my shirts are done?" "Yes, monsieur; they've been here more'n five weeks, with the little bill; and in the last few days Madame Landernoy's asked me two or three times if you'd been or sent anybody to get your shirts--because, I guess--just now---- _Dame!_ monsieur, work ain't always very plenty, you understand; and now that she's got a child, she has to have a stove in her room, because she don't want her daughter to take cold." "I understand, madame; I am very, very sorry that I delayed so about coming. Give me the bill at once." "Take your shirts first and see how well they're done! Such sewing! it's perfect!" The concierge had taken a parcel from her commode; but I pushed it away, saying: "I am sure they are well done. But the bill, the bill!" "I'll give it to you, monsieur. I'm sorry you won't look at your shirts. Here's the bill--yes, that's it." I looked to see what I owed, and read: "For making twelve shirts--twenty-seven francs." I put my hand in my pocket, and sighed. "Twenty-seven francs!" I muttered. "_Dame!_ yes, at forty-five sous the shirt," said the concierge, hearing the sigh. "Do you think that's too much?" "No, madame; on the contrary, I think that it's not enough. The young woman must spend at least two days making a shirt, doesn't she?" "I should think so! Say three, and you'll be nearer the mark." "So that, by working constantly, and robbing herself of sleep perhaps,--for she has a child that often requires her attention,--the poor woman would earn only fifteen sous a day. Can she live, board and clothe herself, and keep herself warm, on fifteen sous?" "Mon Dieu! monsieur, it ain't every woman who sews for a living as earns that. But then, as you say, they can't live, and they're obliged to--to do something else." "If I should have these shirts made at a shop, madame, I should have to pay at least three francs each. I am not a tradesman myself, and I don't care to make money out of a workwoman. Twelve shirts at three francs makes thirty-six francs which I owe Madame Landernoy. Be kind enough to hand it to her for me."