r; our income is
ten thousand francs."

At these words I retired to the door, as if I were seized with a wild
desire to examine the framed drawings which had attracted my attention.
My discretion was rewarded by an eloquent glance. Alas! she did not know
that in Fortunio I could have played the part of Sharp-Ears, who heard
the truffles growing.

"In accordance with the principles of general economy," said my master,
"no one ought to spend in rent and servant's wages more than two-tenths
of his income; now our apartment and our attendance cost altogether
a hundred louis. I give you twelve hundred francs to dress with" [in
saying this he emphasized every syllable]. "Your food," he went on,
takes up four thousand francs, our children demand at lest twenty-five
louis; I take for myself only eight hundred francs; washing, fuel
and light mount up to about a thousand francs; so that there does
not remain, as you see, more than six hundred francs for unforeseen
expenses. In order to buy the cross of diamonds, we must draw a thousand
crowns from our capital, and if once we take that course, my little
darling, there is no reason why we should not leave Paris which you love
so much, and at once take up our residence in the country, in order to
retrench. Children and household expenses will increase fast enough!
Come, try to be reasonable!"

"I suppose I must," she said, "but you will be the only husband in Paris
who has not given a New Year's gift to his wife."

And she stole away like a school-boy who goes to finish an imposed duty.
My master made a gesture of relief. When he saw the door close he rubbed
his hands, he talked of the war in Spain; and I went my way to the Rue
de Provence, little knowing that I had received the first installment
of a great lesson in marriage, any more than I dreamt of the conquest of
Constantinople by General Diebitsch. I arrived at my host's house at the
very moment they were sitting down to luncheon, after having waited for
me the half hour demanded by usage. It was, I believe, as she opened a
_pate de foie gras_ that my pretty hostess said to her husband, with a
determined air:

"Alexander, if you were really nice you would give me that pair of
ear-rings that we saw at Fossin's."

"You shall have them," cheerfully replied my friend, drawing from his
pocketbook three notes of a thousand francs, the sight of which made his
wife's eyes sparkle. "I can no more resist the pleasure of offering