Pierre, who had been too absorbed to follow what had been going on, was suddenly startled by the woman asking him to pay for the entire parcel of flowers, and chocolates.
"What!" exclaimed the lawyer as the woman demanded eighty-five francs, "I don't understand you. Do you expect me to pay over four louis for those worthless flowers? Do you take me for a damned fool or what?"
"That is the correct price, monsieur, I cannot accept less."
Pierre stared at her like a search-light, while his lips assumed an amused and sarcastic smile.
Julie looked at Pierre and tapped impatiently on the ground with her beaded slipper, as Pierre, putting his hand in his pocket, drew out a varied collection of gold and silver coins. He looked at them thoughtfully for a moment, and then apparently changing his mind, rose up and deliberately walked past her, without turning his head, to a table in another part of the room.
"Beast," hissed the siren, as she turned round and glared at him with clenched fingers. "I shall pay you out for this."
But the compliment was quite lost on Pierre.
He had no sooner sat down than the woman with the flowers went up to him.
"Monsieur has forgotten to pay for the flowers and chocolates that he bought for the lady."
"I never bought anything for her; just go and tell her to pay for them herself."