“Very well, then,” replied Madame Legrand; “go back to your room, and my servant will bring it to you.”
“Thank you,” said Derues, bowing,—“many thanks.”
As he turned to depart, Madame Legrand spoke again.
“This day week, Derues, you have to pay me half the twelve hundred livres due for the purchase of my business.”
“So soon as that?”
“Certainly, and I want the money. Have you forgotten the date, then?”
“Oh dear, I have never looked at the agreement since it was drawn up. I did not think the time was so near, it is the fault of my bad memory; but I will contrive to pay you, although trade is very bad, and in three days I shall have to pay more than fifteen thousand livres to different people.”
He bowed again and departed, apparently exhausted by the effort of sustaining so long a conversation.
As soon as they were alone, the abbe exclaimed—
“That man is assuredly an utter rascal! May God forgive him his hypocrisy! How is it possible we could allow him to deceive us for so long?”