"Broke?"
"Yes,—that you had nothing."
"It is not much to me, who——"
"No; I understand that. I once read of a rich American who committed suicide because he was suddenly reduced to two hundred and fifty thousand francs. That was very drôle, was it not?"
"To most people, yes; but it would not be funny for one who had been accustomed to twice or five times that much every year."
"No,—I forgot," she said, reflectively, "about your affairs, monsieur. It is very simple."
"Is it?" He laughed lugubriously.
"You simply accept conditions. You give up your present mode of living; you sell your lease and furniture; you take a small place here somewhere, get only what is necessary, then find something to do. Why, you will be independent,—rich!"
"Only, you omit one thing in the calculation, mademoiselle."
She divined at once what that was.