the mother that he would do all he could in the matter.

He kept his word that same afternoon, and after a great deal of
difficulty he succeeded. At first Beauchene fumed, stormed, denied,
equivocated, almost blamed Mathieu for interfering, talked too of
blackmail, and put on all sorts of high and mighty airs. But at heart
the matter greatly worried him. What if Norine or her mother should
go to his wife? Constance might close her eyes as long as she simply
suspected things, but if complaints were formally, openly made to her,
there would be a terrible scandal. On the other hand, however, should
he do anything for the girl, it would become known, and everybody would
regard him as responsible. And then there would be no end to what he
called the blackmailing.

However, when Beauchene reached this stage Mathieu felt that the battle
was gained. He smiled and answered: "Of course, one can never tell--the
girl is certainly not malicious. But when women are driven beyond
endurance, they become capable of the worst follies. I must say that
she made no demands of me; she did not even explain what she wanted;
she simply said that she could not remain in the streets in this bleak
weather, since her father had turned her away from home. If you want my
opinion, it is this: I think that one might at once put her to board at
a proper place. Let us say that four or five months will elapse before
she is able to work again; that would mean a round sum of five hundred
francs in expenses. At that cost she might be properly looked after."

Beauchene walked nervously up and down, and then replied: "Well, I
haven't a bad heart, as you know. Five hundred francs more or less will
not inconvenience me. If I flew into a temper just now it was because
the mere idea of being robbed and imposed upon puts me beside myself.
But if it's a question of charity, why, then, do as you suggest. It must
be understood, however, that I won't mix myself up in anything; I wish
even to remain ignorant of what you do. Choose a nurse, place the girl
where you please, and I will simply pay the bill. Neither more nor
less."

Then he heaved a sigh of relief at the prospect of being extricated from
this equivocal position, the worry of which he refused to acknowledge.
And once more he put on the mien of a superior, victorious man, one who
is certain that he will win all the battles of life. In fact, he even
jested about the girl, and at last went off repeating his i