ten not half that, let her try ever so hard."

"How does it happen that Mlle. Rigolette should be the only person
entrusted with the secret of M. Germain's present abode?"

"Why, when he was going away, he came to us and said," returned Madame
Pipelet, "'I do not expect any letters; but if, by chance, any should
come, please to give them to Mlle. Rigolette.' And she is well worthy of
his confidence, if his letters were filled with gold; don't you think
so, Alfred?"

"The fact is," said the porter, in a severe tone, "that I know no harm
of Mlle. Rigolette, excepting her permitting herself to be wheedled over
by that vile scamp, Cabrion."

"But you know, Alfred, that nothing more than a few harmless attentions
passed between them," interrupted the porteress; "for, though Mlle.
Rigolette is as merry as a kitten, she is as prudent and correct as I am
myself. You should see the strong bolts she has inside her door; and if
her next-door neighbour will make love to her, that is not her fault; it
follows as a matter of course when people are so close to each other.
It was just the same with the travelling-clerk we had here before
Cabrion, and so it was when M. Germain took the room this abominable
painter occupied. So, as I say, there is no blame to Mlle. Rigolette; it
arises out of the two rooms joining one another so closely,--naturally
that brings about a little flirtation, but nothing more."

"So, then, it becomes a matter of course, does it," said Rodolph, "that
every one who occupies the apartment I am to have should make love to
Mlle. Rigolette?"

"Why, of course, monsieur; how can you be good neighbours without
it,--don't you see? Now, imagine yourself lodging in the very next room
to a nice, pretty, obliging young person, like Mlle. Rigolette; well,
then, young people will be young people,--sometimes you want a light,
sometimes a few live coals to kindle up your fire, maybe a little
water,--for one is sure always to find plenty of fresh spring water at
Mlle. Rigolette's, she is never without it; it is her only luxury,--she
is like a little duck, always dabbling in it; and if she does happen to
have a little leisure, such a washing down of floors and cleaning of
windows! Never the least soil or neglect about either herself or her
apartment, and so you will find."

"And so M. Germain, by reason of his close proximity to Mlle. Rigolette,
became what you style upon perfectly neighbourly terms with her?"

"Oh, bles