ered like subtle
perfume." He vowed "eternal fidelity to that springtide of love" and
ended by declaring that his sole wish was to "recommence that happy time
if, indeed, happiness can recommence."

"I say that out of politeness, y'know," he explained. "The moment it
becomes laughable--eh, what! I think she's felt it, she has!"

He glowed with triumph. But Nana was unskillful; she still suspected
an outbreak and now was mistaken enough not to fling her arms round
his neck in a burst of admiration. She thought the letter a respectable
performance, nothing more. Thereupon he was much annoyed. If his letter
did not please her she might write another! And so instead of bursting
out in loverlike speeches and exchanging kisses, as their wont was, they
sat coldly facing one another at the table. Nevertheless, she poured him
out a cup of tea.

"Here's a filthy mess," he cried after dipping his lips in the mixture.
"You've put salt in it, you have!"

Nana was unlucky enough to shrug her shoulders, and at that he grew
furious.

"Aha! Things are taking a wrong turn tonight!"

And with that the quarrel began. It was only ten by the clock, and this
was a way of killing time. So he lashed himself into a rage and threw
in Nana's teeth a whole string of insults and all kinds of accusations
which followed one another so closely that she had no time to defend
herself. She was dirty; she was stupid; she had knocked about in
all sorts of low places! After that he waxed frantic over the money
question. Did he spend six francs when he dined out? No, somebody was
treating him to a dinner; otherwise he would have eaten his ordinary
meal at home. And to think of spending them on that old procuress of a
Maloir, a jade he would chuck out of the house tomorrow! Yes, by jingo,
they would get into a nice mess if he and she were to go throwing six
francs out of the window every day!

"Now to begin with, I want your accounts," he shouted. "Let's see; hand
over the money! Now where do we stand?"

All his sordid avaricious instincts came to the surface. Nana was cowed
and scared, and she made haste to fetch their remaining cash out of
the desk and to bring it him. Up to that time the key had lain on this
common treasury, from which they had drawn as freely as they wished.

"How's this?" he said when he had counted up the money. "There are
scarcely seven thousand francs remaining out of seventeen thousand, and
we've only been together three mo