lsterer, the charcoal merchant and the laundress
had put in an appearance and had offered to give Madame an extension of
time. Nay, they had even proposed to advance Madame a very considerable
amount if only Madame would return to her flat and conduct herself like
a sensible person. The aunt repeated Zoe's words. Without doubt there
was a gentleman behind it all.

"I'll never consent!" declared Nana in great disgust. "Ah, they're a
pretty lot those tradesmen! Do they think I'm to be sold so that they
can get their bills paid? Why, look here, I'd rather die of hunger than
deceive Fontan."

"That's what I said," averred Mme Lerat. "'My niece,' I said, 'is too
noble-hearted!'"

Nana, however, was much vexed to learn that La Mignotte was being sold
and that Labordette was buying it for Caroline Hequet at an absurdly low
price. It made her angry with that clique. Oh, they were a regular cheap
lot, in spite of their airs and graces! Yes, by Jove, she was worth more
than the whole lot of them!

"They can have their little joke out," she concluded, "but money will
never give them true happiness! Besides, you know, Aunt, I don't even
know now whether all that set are alive or not. I'm much too happy."

At that very moment Mme Maloir entered, wearing one of those hats of
which she alone understood the shape. It was delightful meeting again.
Mme Maloir explained that magnificence frightened her and that NOW,
from time to time, she would come back for her game of bezique. A
second visit was paid to the different rooms in the lodgings, and in the
kitchen Nana talked of economy in the presence of the charwoman, who was
basting the fowl, and said that a servant would have cost too much
and that she was herself desirous of looking after things. Louiset was
gazing beatifically at the roasting process.

But presently there was a loud outburst of voices. Fontan had come in
with Bosc and Prulliere, and the company could now sit down to table.
The soup had been already served when Nana for the third time showed off
the lodgings.

"Ah, dear children, how comfortable you are here!" Bosc kept repeating,
simply for the sake of pleasing the chums who were standing the dinner.
At bottom the subject of the "nook," as he called it, nowise touched
him.

In the bedroom he harped still more vigorously on the amiable note.
Ordinarily he was wont to treat women like cattle, and the idea of a man
bothering himself about one of the dirty brutes