"And so, monsieur, by your fault, I am deprived of my daughter forever, and the poor child is without a family! It is shocking!" "Pardon me, madame, pardon me; on mature reflection--in the little one's behalf first of all--I am not sure that it is a great calamity that she has never known the secret of her birth; she would still have been in a false position; and then life in Paris wouldn't have been as good for her health as the fresh country air--especially in Picardie. That's an excellent region; they drink cider there, which is very healthy. If she is still alive, I am sure that she must be in good health. She lives in the fields and woods--bless my soul! she is happier, no doubt, than she would be here; especially as I could never give her an establishment with the remains of my fortune." "But what of me, monsieur?--do you make no account of my regrets? I am deprived of my daughter's caresses!" "I beg pardon, madame, but the longing for those caresses takes you rather tardily." "Why, monsieur, it is twelve years since I last saw you." "But for seven years we were almost never apart, and you were perfectly willing to leave the child at nurse; you asked me about her sometimes--at long intervals; but you never said: 'Do send for her.'--You thought that the attention you would have to give the child would disturb your pleasures; and for my part, I believe that her presence would embarrass you even more now; for the girl is nineteen years old; and a daughter of nineteen would be terribly repugnant to you; she might rob you of conquests!" "Monsieur, you do not mean to insult me, I trust?" "By no means, my dear friend! We have had an explanation, and I have confessed the truth. 'I had to do it!' as Bilboquet says; and now I will take my cane and my hat and return to my Marais." "Do you live in the Marais? What a horrible neighborhood!" "Oh, no! however, one lives where one can! I have not, as you have, anonymous admirers who make me an allowance; but I congratulate you; you can still gratify your taste for pleasure, for fine clothes. I consider you very rich now--compared with myself." "No, indeed! no, indeed!" Madame de Grangeville replied eagerly, with an embarrassed air. "I have only what I need to live; a woman requires so many things, you know; it would be impossible for me to accommodate anybody." Roncherolle put on his hat, leaned on his cane and exclaimed with a savage glance at the baroness: