"Amusing, if you choose to call it so! I was afraid for a minute that it was going to be serious." "Oh! you see the dark side of everything." "I assure you, monsieur, that those ladies didn't look at the bright side, either of 'em. They went away at last. Mademoiselle Virginie went to see an Englishman, who is to buy a linen-draper's shop for her." "Bertrand, you're a slanderer." "I am simply repeating what she said, monsieur." "I will go up to-night and see Léonie. What next?" "Monsieur Destival came to see you; he seemed full of business." "Oh, yes! he has spoken to me very often lately about an excellent investment in which I can get ten per cent for my money." "I advise you to get as large a per cent as you can, monsieur; for we are running through the funds pretty fast." "That is true; I must put my affairs in a better condition." "Yes, that wouldn't be a bad idea." "I have been obliged to sell a farm already." "Poor farm! When I think of it, it makes me feel sad." "Don't be alarmed, Bertrand, I propose to cut down my expenses after this. I will see Destival, and if he can still find a profitable investment for my money, I shall recover what I have thrown away. Come, my old comrade, no moping; it does no good. I am young and rich. You must agree that I have no reason to despair as yet." "That is so, lieutenant; that's what I said to myself when Schtrack and I were inspecting the cellar, to make sure that everything was all right." "You did very well, Bertrand; inspect, superintend, manage everything to suit yourself. I am going to change my clothes; then I will go up to see my neighbor; and to-morrow I will attend to more serious affairs." "Excellent young man!" said Bertrand, following Auguste with his eyes. "He leaves me in control here. But tasting his wines isn't the whole thing; that isn't enough; I propose to make myself useful to him in spite of him, and I will go down and have a talk with Madame Schtrack about the little man who goes up to our neighbor's room." Madame Saint-Edmond greeted Auguste with an offended air; she was melancholy, her eyes were red, she still held her handkerchief in her hand. It is true that, as she had learned of Auguste's return, she was expecting a call from him. Dalville inquired sympathetically what the cause of her depression might be; she refused to confide in him; but she let drop a word or two concerning the woman she had met in his rooms; these words were followed by stifled sighs and sarcastic laughter, and Madame Saint-Edmond added to each of her comments: "You are entirely at liberty, monsieur, to receive whomever you choose."