"I, ask you for anything, after what has happened!"
"I'll go alone," says Adolphe, unwilling to be humiliated in his wife.
"I dare say you are very glad to," returns Caroline, in a captious tone, "it's plain enough from the way you are got up."
Eleven persons are in the parlor, all invited to dinner by Adolphe. Caroline is there, looking as if her husband had invited her too. She is waiting for dinner to be served.
"Sir," says the parlor servant in a whisper to his master, "the cook doesn't know what on earth to do!"
"What's the matter?"
"You said nothing to her, sir: and she has only two side-dishes, the beef, a chicken, a salad and vegetables."
"Caroline, didn't you give the necessary orders?"
"How did I know that you had company, and besides I can't take it upon myself to give orders here! You delivered me from all care on that point, and I thank heaven for it every day of my life."
Madame de Fischtaminel has called to pay Madame Caroline a visit. She finds her coughing feebly and nearly bent double over her embroidery.