"Wheredidyoumeetthepartnerinyourmisdemeanor?"
"Sheismywife, monsieur."
"Yourwife?"
"Yes, monsieur."
"Then—then—youdonotlivetogether-inParis?"
"Ibegyourpardon, monsieur, butwearelivingtogether!"
"Butinthatcase—youmustbemad, altogethermad, mydearsir, togetcaughtplayingloversinthecountryatteno'clockinthemorning."
Thehaberdasherseemedreadytocrywithshame, andhemuttered: "Itwasshewhoenticedme! Itoldheritwasverystupid, butwhenawomanoncegetsathingintoherhead—youknow—youcannotgetitout."
Themayor, wholikedajoke, smiledandreplied: "Inyourcase, , ifshehadhadtheideaonlyinherhead."
ThenMonsieurBeaurainwasseizedwithrageandturningtohiswife, hesaid: "Doyouseetowhatyouhavebroughtuswithyourpoetry? Andnowweshallhavetogobeforethecourtsatourage, forabreachofmorals! Andweshallhavetoshutuptheshop, sellourgoodwill, andgotosomeotherneighborhood! That'swhatithascometo."
MadameBeauraingotup, andwithoutlookingatherhusband, sheexplainedherselfwithoutembarrassment, withoutuselessmodesty, andalmostwithouthesitation.
"Ofcourse, monsieur, , orratherlikeapoorwoman? AndIhopethatyouwillbekindenoughtosendushome, andtospareusthedisgraceofaprosecution.
"Yearsago, whenIwasyoung, ImadeMonsieurBeaurain''sshop, , RoseLeveque, withwhomIlivedintheRuePigalle, andRosehadasweetheart, , , butIrepliedthatitwouldbenogood; forIwasvirtuous, monsieur.
