"What!" exclaimed the lawyer as the woman demanded eighty-five francs, "I don't understand you. Do you expect me to pay over four louis for those worthless flowers? Do you take me for a damned fool or what?" "That is the correct price, monsieur, I cannot accept less." Pierre stared at her like a search-light, while his lips assumed an amused and sarcastic smile. Julie looked at Pierre and tapped impatiently on the ground with her beaded slipper, as Pierre, putting his hand in his pocket, drew out a varied collection of gold and silver coins. He looked at them thoughtfully for a moment, and then apparently changing his mind, rose up and deliberately walked past her, without turning his head, to a table in another part of the room. "Beast," hissed the siren, as she turned round and glared at him with clenched fingers. "I shall pay you out for this." But the compliment was quite lost on Pierre. He had no sooner sat down than the woman with the flowers went up to him. "Monsieur has forgotten to pay for the flowers and chocolates that he bought for the lady." "I never bought anything for her; just go and tell her to pay for them herself." The flower seller went up to the manager, who straight-way came over to where Pierre was sitting. "Pardon, monsieur, I understand that monsieur bought some flowers and chocolates for the lady over there." "I did nothing of the sort. Look here, monsieur," he added, "if this woman gives me any more of her cheek I will inform the police." Several people got up from their seats, and a crowd began to collect. The music which was in full swing suddenly ceased abruptly. Ultimately the lady, seeing that there was no help for it, settled the bill. "Ah, coquin," she said, shaking her finger at Pierre, "you shall pay this little bill many times over before I have done with you, just wait and see." Pierre settled down in one of the cosy corners, and ordering a petit verre of absinthe, became absorbed in a copy of _Le Soir_. Julie's fit of temper caused a flush of colour to spread over her cheeks, which greatly increased her charms, and Pierre, who happened to glance up from his newspaper, could not help admiring her, and tried to attract her attention once more, but she disdainfully turned her head aside. After hesitating for a few moments Julie called one of the waiters, who was evidently on intimate terms with her, and whispered something in his ear. He gave a slight nod and returned to his work. Nearly an hour passed; and Pierre, feeling tired, put on his hat, and after waiting outside for a few minutes hailed a fiacre and drove to his chambers. Had he looked back he would have seen a man running swiftly behind his carriage. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 8: It is true because it is impossible.] CHAPTER XIV COMING EVENTS CAST THEIR SHADOWS BEFORE Chi rende alla meschina La sua felicità[9]