"Piaulard? Oh, yes! now you remind me of it, it is strange; for I didn't pay him. Well, after you threw me on the ground, where I lay for some time, all dazed like--not that I was hurt at all, but I was dazed by the effect I felt inside of me; I can't describe it--at last I got up, and found everybody had gone, Piaulard with the rest, for I didn't see him again. It's a strange thing, sure enough. I stayed a long while right in the same place, like a dazed man; I don't know what I was thinking about--that is to say, I was looking for you; I was determined to see you and ask your pardon.--Ah! now I remember--a lady came and spoke to me." "A lady?" "Yes, yes! Why, I forgot all about her!" "What was her appearance? Try to remember; draw her portrait for me." "She was dressed in style, and I think she was rather tall; as for her face, I didn't pay any attention to it. I was still looking for you; I was like a madman; I didn't know what I was doing, but I was calling your name, and I think I was weeping too." "But what did this lady say? what did she want of you?" "Wait a minute; I don't just remember what she said. She tried to comfort me, and then--yes, I think she offered me money." "Money?" "Yes. I don't know what for, but she said: 'Take this;' and then, faith! I don't know what else she said. All I know is that I told her to let me alone; she interfered with my looking for you. When she saw that I wouldn't answer her, she left me." "And you didn't take her money?" "Oh, no! indeed I didn't!" "That was right, Ballangier; you did right to refuse. Didn't she say anything else to you?" "Mon Dieu! I didn't listen to her at all. I was looking all the time to see if I could see you pass, and I just said to her: 'Oh! let me look for Charles; you prevent my finding him!'--And she went off." "Poor fellow! Here, take this; pay your creditor--you owe him twenty-nine francs, I believe--that is, if someone hasn't already taken it upon herself to pay him, as I am inclined to think." "Someone? Nonsense! who could it be?" "A person whom you don't know, but I do. However, you must look up this Piaulard, and find out about it. Then go to work, straighten yourself out, make yourself a good workman, and come to see me if you need my help." "Ah! Charles, I don't deserve to have you make any more sacrifices for me; I am forever annoying and distressing you! Keep the money; I must learn to earn my living at last." "You will succeed, as soon as you have sincerely made up your mind to do it, I don't doubt. But, meanwhile, I want you to pay your debts and not be left without anything. So, take this; I insist upon it! If by means of your work you should become rich, and I should need to be helped, I would accept without blushing what you offered me." "What you say puts some heart and courage into me," cried Ballangier, grasping my hand as he spoke. "Help you some day! _Cré coquin!_ I should be a proud and happy man then!"