“What! have you had the misfortune to suffer from somebody’s bankruptcy?” “Why, yes, I think so; and then, you know, women are so stupid about managing their property.” “But when it is simply a matter of receiving income, one does not need a business agent for that.” The bell rang again. The baroness started, and Monsieur de Merval took his hat, saying: “Somebody has come to visit you, madame, and I will take my leave.” “Why no, don’t go yet, I beg you; it is no visitor, I expect no one; no one ever comes to see me now!” The poor woman said this in such a melancholy tone that Monsieur de Merval was touched; he replaced his hat on the chair, and his eyes rested again on various parts of the furniture, which clearly betrayed the lamentable plight of their owner. As he passed these objects in review, in order to conceal what was in his mind, he began to talk about the Glumeau family; but soon a hoarse voice arose in the reception room and dominated Lizida’s, although she did her utmost to drown it. Thereupon Madame de Grangeville also tried to talk very loud, so that her visitor should not hear the altercation which was taking place in her reception room. She even tried to laugh. “Oh, yes! ha! ha! ha! that party that those good people gave was very comical; there were such amusing faces there! They put me at the table beside an old gentleman who looked like an owl. Ha! ha! ha!” But the noise in the reception room did not cease, and Madame de Grangeville laughed on the wrong side of her mouth. Monsieur de Merval, while doing his best not to listen, could not, unless he had stuffed his ears, help hearing a stentorian voice shout: “I won’t go away! I want my money! I said to my wife: ‘They’ll send you to the devil with your bill; I’m going myself!--_Fichtre!_ I won’t go away without the money!” Monsieur de Merval, who had been pensive and preoccupied for several minutes, suddenly said to his old friend: “Mon Dieu! how thoughtless I am, madame! I knew that I had something else to say to you, but while we were talking I forgot it; it is a mere trifle, an old debt that I desire to pay, if you will allow me.” “What do you mean? I don’t understand you.” “This is how it is: the last time that I was with Monsieur de Brévanne, a very long time ago, we played cards, and I lost five hundred francs to him on credit, for I had no money with me. After that, I tried in vain to find the count; he had left Paris suddenly. Now, as I have found his wife to-day, I ask permission to cancel a debt which troubles me. If you will allow me to hand you that amount, you will do me a favor.” Madame de Grangeville blushed slightly as she replied: “But I don’t know whether I ought to accept; Monsieur de Brévanne and I no longer have any property in common.”