"How long has she been in her present condition?"
"Three months. There will no doubt be a miscarriage."
"And the family is a wealthy and honourable one?"
"An old middle-class family. The father was a judge. A very handsome fortune."
"What is the aunt prepared to give?"
"A hundred thousand francs."
Another pause ensued. Madame Sidonie was no longer blubbering; she was on business, her voice assumed the metallic jingle of a second-hand dealer trying to drive a bargain. Her brother took a covert glance at her, and added with some slight hesitation:
"And you, what will you want?"
"We'll talk of that later on," replied she. "You can do me a service in your turn."
She waited a few seconds, and as he remained silent, she asked him plainly: