In a long blue apron, with her sleeves rolled up, she told him that he couldn't. And he took off his coat and got to work. What a sweeping and a polishing there was! Nine o'clock had struck when he began to hang the curtains, and the dinner at the pension de famille was a thing of the past. "Evidently, mademoiselle," he said, from the top of a step-ladder, "you also will have to dine out this evening. What do you say to leaving Marceline to put the finishing touches now, and taking nourishment in my company?" "Monsieur," returned Suzanne, "you dizzy me with your neighbourly kindness. If you can turn round without risking your neck, however, you will note that Marceline is absent. She is engaged in improvising a meal for us, and I beg you to accept my invitation." "Enchanted. Only, as you are still somewhat at sixes and sevens here, may I propose that you invite me to my own flat, instead of yours?" So it befell that the bouillon, brought hot in a can from the little greengrocer's across the road, was served at Pariset's table. And Marceline's omelette, created while the cutlets were frizzling on the grille, proved to be delicious. "Our bonne," remarked the widower, complacently, "might be worse, hein?" "I was thinking the same thing," assented Suzanne. "It seems to me that we have done very well for ourselves." "You smoke a cigarette?" "It is one of my consolations." "I hope that I may be privileged to see you console yourself here often." "And if you ever have leisure to call upon me cor _le feeve o'clock_, monsieur, I shall be charmed. You can hardly excuse yourself on the plea that my address is too remote." "Believe me," said Pariset, "I warmly felicitate myself on the address; if I may say so, I am daring to foresee a friendship. And it would be very welcome, for I lead a lonely life." "I, too," she sighed. "I am a painter, I am a communist, but all the same, I am alone." "Ah, you are a painter, and communist, hein? We shall have subjects to talk about." "You are surprised?" "I am, above all, surprised to hear that you are alone. It is difficult to realise how that can be." "It is true, I assure you. Only to-day I had the strongest need of a man's arm to render me a service, and I could think of no one to ask." "There are a couple of arms here," announced Pariset, displaying them in an heroic gesture. "And doughty deeds they have just accomplished for me!" she laughed. "No, but seriously----" he urged. "Oh, seriously, the service that I speak of is far too big for even the best of new friends." "You are wrong. Without having heard it, I venture to pronounce it just the right size." "How sincere you are! And how I appreciate your earnestness!" she exclaimed. "But it is out of the question." "I have not yet proved myself worthy of your confidence," he regretted sentimentally. "I understand."