you by stooping myself to
a girl of your kind, and you refuse, and are fastidious. Has one ever seen
such a thing? It is enough to make God laugh. Come, come now, not so many
affectations: for the lost time, how much do you want? A hundred francs?

--You horrify me. Let me go away.

He cast a fearful look upon her, and said, with a laugh which chilled her
blood:

--Oh, you want to go away. Well, how about the money I have spent on you,
and on your journey?

--Your money! I did not ask you for it. But I will let you have it back
again, be assured; when I have worked and earned it.

--And you believe that I shall be satisfied with this fine promise? You
will let me have my money back immediately, or I shall certainly accuse you
of being a thief ... an adventuress.

--I will say what happened. It was you who compelled me to take the money
for the coach-fare.

--I make you a present of that, but you will have to pay all that you have
spent here; if not, you will be put in prison, you understand, little
good-for-nothing? Do you think people are going to keep you and let you
enjoy yourself for nothing?

--And who has told you that I shall not pay, replied Zulma, struck by the
logic of this objection.

--Then you will pay immediately, said the worthy man, for I have been
answerable for you, and it is on my recommendation that they have received
a trollop like you into this respectable house. Madame Connard, he cried at
the door, dear Madame Connard, will you bring up the bill, the little bill?

Madame Connard appeared at once:

--What, Mademoiselle is going away, is she not sleeping here?

--No, Mademoiselle is going to try her fortune elsewhere.

Madame Connard handed the bill to Monsieur Tibulle.

--No, no. It is Mademoiselle who is going to settle it; this young lady.

Zulma glanced at it and grew pale. She had hardly 10 francs, and the bill
amounted to 19 francs, 75 centimes.

--And besides, it is so little because it is you. Everything is so dear
here, and one does not know what to do for a living.

The poor girl remained silent; she looked at the bill without seeing it,
for her eyes were full of tears.

--Well, said Monsieur Tibulle in a wheedling tone. Is there some little
hindrance to your settling that?

--Madame, said Zulma, I have not enough money with me; no, I do not believe
I have enough money ... but I can find it, I know where to find it ... and
in an hour or two....

--Oh, oh, cried Ma