“It is not necessary that monsieur should listen to our discussion,” said Madame Thuillier; “it will not appear in the contract.”
“No wonder you are ashamed of it,” said Brigitte; “the appearance you are making is not very flattering to you—Monsieur,” she continued, addressing the clerk, “it is easier, is it not, to mark out passages in a contract than to add them?”
The clerk made an affirmative sign.
“Then put in what you were told to write; later, if madame persists, the clause can be stricken out.”
The clerk bowed and left the room.
When the two sisters-in-law were alone together, Brigitte began.
“Ah ca!” she cried, “have you lost your head? What is this crotchet you’ve taken into it?”
“It is not a crotchet; it is a fixed idea.”
“Which you got from the Abbe Gondrin; you dare not deny that you went to see him with Celeste.”
“It is true that Celeste and I saw our director this morning, but I did not open my lips to him about what I intended to do.”