“Always a bargain! A tradesman can never learn to give. You want to stop for refreshments on the road of love—in the form of Government bonds! Bah! Shopman, pomatum seller! you put a price on everything!—Hector told me that the Duc d’Herouville gave Josepha a bond for thirty thousand francs a year in a packet of sugar almonds! And I am worth six of Josepha.
“Oh! to be loved!” she went on, twisting her ringlets round her fingers, and looking at herself in the glass. “Henri loves me. He would smash you like a fly if I winked at him! Hulot loves me; he leaves his wife in beggary! As for you, go my good man, be the worthy father of a family. You have three hundred thousand francs over and above your fortune, only to amuse yourself, a hoard, in fact, and you think of nothing but increasing it—”
“For you, Valerie, since I offer you half,” said he, falling on his knees.
“What, still here!” cried Marneffe, hideous in his dressing-gown. “What are you about?”
“He is begging my pardon, my dear, for an insulting proposal he has dared to make me. Unable to obtain my consent, my gentleman proposed to pay me——”
Crevel only longed to vanish into the cellar, through a trap, as is done on the stage.
“Get up, Crevel,” said Marneffe, laughing, “you are ridiculous. I can see by Valerie’s manner that my honor is in no danger.”
“Go to bed and sleep in peace,” said Madame Marneffe.
“Isn’t she clever?” thought Crevel. “She has saved me. She is adorable!”
As Marneffe disappeared, the Mayor took Valerie’s hands and kissed them, leaving on them the traces of tears.