"But all those grisettes who come to tell you about their little troubles, to have you comfort them, and the great ladies whose heads you turned--don't you think, lieutenant, that your cabriolet had something to do with their display of affection for you?" "That would be an additional reason for not regretting it. Henceforth I shall know the hearts of the women to whom I make love; I shall be sure of being loved for myself; and if I triumph over a youthful beauty, if I carry the day over a rival, I shall have no reason to fear that I owe the preference accorded me to my fortune and to that alone." "You will soon find out, lieutenant, that it was for your advantage that that villain carried off your money!" "Faith! who knows? Tell me, am I wrong to look at the bright side?" "No, indeed; there are lots of people who couldn't find a bright side to such a thing; but still--excuse my fears, monsieur--what you have left won't last forever, no matter how much we may economize; and what will you do then, lieutenant? for a man can't live on his cheerfulness alone." "Why, then--we'll see, my dear Bertrand; I have some talents--well, I'll turn them to account, I'll work." "You work, monsieur!" said Bertrand, turning his back, to wipe away a tear. "Why not, my friend?" "Because you're not used to it--because it would be too hard for you--because I wouldn't allow it, in fact,--and--But let's not say any more about that. You're right; it's better to forget ourselves. Who knows? perhaps we shall find your thief!" "That's the talk, my dear Bertrand; we must always hope; it makes us none the poorer and it does us good." Auguste went out to seek distraction with a mercer's apprentice, and Bertrand went downstairs to read the life of the great Turenne to Schtrack. XVI A SCENE IN SOCIETY The cabriolet was sold, the little groom found another place. When Madame Saint-Edmond observed that her neighbor was cutting down his establishment, she no longer deigned to look at him, but passed him without even bowing to him. Bertrand was indignant at her discourtesy, but Auguste laughed at it, saying: "I am certain now that that woman never loved me, and it is always pleasant to know whom one is dealing with." But Bertrand muttered: "Just let her lose her poodle again; and if I find him I'll make him do a turn of sentry duty that he'll never be relieved from."