When she came in she seemed very angry.
"What an idea!" she cried, without taking the trouble to bow to anyone; "what sense is there in sending for me to come here in this way, almost by force, and by a very impudent young woman?"
Mme. Charman hastened to meet her old customer, embraced her in spite of herself, and pressed her to her heart.
"Why, don't be so angry, dear—I thought you would be delighted and overwhelm me with thanks."
"I? What for?"
"Because, my dear girl, I had a surprise in store for you. Ah, I'm not ungrateful; you came here yesterday and settled your account with me, and to-day I mean to reward you for it. Come, cheer up; you're going to have a splendid chance, because just at this moment I happen to have a piece of exquisite velvet—"
"A pretty thing to bring me here for!"
"All silk, my dear, at thirty francs the yard. Ha, 'tis wonderfully cheap, the best—"
"Eh! What care I for your 'chance?' Velvet in July—are you making fun of me?"
"Let me show it to you, now."