ate of soup. How much do you want?"

"Well, five or six thousand francs."

"I have but three thousand at the most," said Lisbeth. "And what is
Wenceslas doing now?"

"He has had an offer to work in partnership with Stidmann at a table
service for the Duc d'Herouville for six thousand francs. Then Monsieur
Chanor will advance four thousand to repay Monsieur de Lora and
Bridau--a debt of honor."

"What, you have had the money for the statue and the bas-reliefs for
Marshal Montcornet's monument, and you have not paid them yet?"

"For the last three years," said Hortense, "we have spent twelve
thousand francs a year, and I have but a hundred louis a year of my own.
The Marshal's monument, when all the expenses were paid, brought us no
more than sixteen thousand francs. Really and truly, if Wenceslas gets
no work, I do not know what is to become of us. Oh, if only I could
learn to make statues, I would handle the clay!" she cried, holding up
her fine arms.

The woman, it was plain, fulfilled the promise of the girl; there was
a flash in her eye; impetuous blood, strong with iron, flowed in her
veins; she felt that she was wasting her energy in carrying her infant.

"Ah, my poor little thing! a sensible girl should not marry an artist
till his fortune is made--not while it is still to make."

At this moment they heard voices; Stidmann and Wenceslas were seeing
Chanor to the door; then Wenceslas and Stidmann came in again.

Stidmann, an artist in vogue in the world of journalists, famous
actresses, and courtesans of the better class, was a young man of
fashion whom Valerie much wished to see in her rooms; indeed, he had
already been introduced to her by Claude Vignon. Stidmann had lately
broken off an intimacy with Madame Schontz, who had married some months
since and gone to live in the country. Valerie and Lisbeth, hearing of
this upheaval from Claude Vignon, thought it well to get Steinbock's
friend to visit in the Rue Vanneau.

Stidmann, out of good feeling, went rarely to the Steinbocks'; and as it
happened that Lisbeth was not present when he was introduced by Claude
Vignon, she now saw him for the first time. As she watched this noted
artist, she caught certain glances from his eyes at Hortense, which
suggested to her the possibility of offering him to the Countess
Steinbock as a consolation if Wenceslas should be false to her. In point
of fact, Stidmann was reflecting that if Steinbock were not his friend,