"I say, Dutchman, is it true that Auguste has left Paris?" "Ja! ja! he's gone round the world with Pertrand." "Round the world! Great God! And I came to ask him to invite me to breakfast! Come, my little Denise, don't cry like that!--Poor child! she makes me feel sad.--So you loved Auguste, did you, my dear child?" "Oh, yes, madame!" "There! I knew it! she loved him! I suspected as much.--And he swore that he loved you too, of course; for these villains of men, they swear to that as if they were just saying good-morning." "No, madame, Auguste didn't love me, I'm very sure of that!" "Then it's very kind of you to weep for him." "Oh! I can't help it." "I know well enough that love is stronger than we are. I know all about that! I have been through it. There are men that one can't help persisting in loving.--And you came to Paris to see him?" "Yes, madame, and to give him this money. When you came to see me three weeks ago, you told us that Monsieur Auguste was ruined. I didn't know anything about it before." "Yes, yes, I remember; and I played ghost; and if it hadn't been for your dog nipping the calf of my leg, I'd have had the whole village in the air." "Last summer Monsieur Auguste gave me a thousand crowns for little Coco; but he was rich then; to-day, as he isn't rich any more, it seemed to me that I ought to give back that money. We had used it for building a cottage and laying out a garden; but I made my aunt understand that we mustn't tell Monsieur Auguste that we had used the money at all. My aunt's kindhearted too. Besides, it was no more than our duty. As I succeeded in getting the last of the money yesterday, I started to bring it to him right away. I came alone so as not to be delayed, and after all I got here too late! He has gone, and he isn't coming back again!" Denise began to cry again, while Schtrack returned with the money and handed it to her, saying: "There ain't a single one missing; count 'em, mamzelle." "Alas! what shall I do with it now? This money was for him," said Denise. "You had better take it home again, my child; a person can never have too much of it," Virginie replied, while Schtrack, still holding the bag, repeated: "Count 'em, mamzelle, if you blease." "Don't you see that she don't want to count it, you pig-headed old fool?" said Virginie. "We all know that the Dutchman is honest." "Never mind, count just the same, mamzelle, if you blease." Virginie decided to count the money, because Schtrack would not otherwise have left them in peace. Meanwhile Denise said to the concierge: "Did Monsieur Auguste look very sad when he went away, monsieur?" "Sad? no, mamzelle, he was fery glad to go, judging from what he said." "I'll bet he's gone to pick up a legacy," said Virginie, "and that's why he went off so sudden. Didn't he tell you so, Dutchman?" "No, he haf not said anything of a legacy, but he sold[F] all his furniture."