not have any cares, and so between them, they kept Nelly.

"Stirling's debts accumulated, and he mortgaged his salary for years in
advance to the usurers who haunt circuses as if they were gambling
hells, who are on the watch for passions, poverty and disappointments,
who keep plenty of ready stamped bill paper in their pockets, as well as
money, which they haggle over, coin by coin. But in spite of all this,
the lad sang, made a show, and amused himself, and used to say to him,
as he kissed him on both cheeks: 'How kind you are, in spite of
everything!'

"In a month's time, as he was becoming too exacting, he followed her,
questioned her and worried her with perpetual scenes, Nelly found that
she had had enough of her gymnast; he was a toy which she had done with
and worn out, and which was now only in her way, and only worth throwing
into the gutter. She was satiated with him, and became once more the
tranquil woman whom nothing can move, and who baits her ground quite
calmly, in order to find a husband and to make a fresh start. And so she
turned the young fellow out of doors, as if he had been some beggar
soliciting alms. He did not complain, however, and did not say anything
to _Mamma Stirling_, but worked as he had done in the past, and mastered
himself with superhuman energy, so as to hide the grief that was gnawing
at his heart and killing him, and the disenchantment with everything
that was making him sick of life.

"Some time afterwards, when there was to be a special display for the
officers, seeing Nelly d'Argine there in a box surrounded by her usual
admirers, appearing indifferent to everything that was going on, and not
even apparently noticing that he was performing, and was being heartily
applauded, he threw his trapeze forward as far as he could, at the end
of his performance, and exerting all his strength, and certain that he
should fall beyond the protecting net, he flung himself furiously into
space.

"A cry of horror resounded from one end of the house to the other, when
he was picked up disfigured, and with nearly every bone in his body
broken. The unfortunate young fellow was no longer breathing, his chest
was crushed in, and blood-stained froth was issuing from his lips, and
Nelly d'Argine made haste to leave the house with her friends, saying in
a very vexed voice:

"'It is very disgusting to come in the hopes of being amused, and to
witness an accident!'

"And _Mamma Stirling_, who was