“No.”
Madame Boncour stood staring at him, with her red arms folded round her breasts, shaking her head.
When he got up to go upstairs again, she suddenly shouted:
“And when are you going to pay me? It's two weeks since you have paid me.”
“But, Madame Boncour, I told you I had no money. If you wait a day or two, I'm sure to get some in the mail. It can't be more than a day or two.”
“I've heard that story before.”
“I've even tried to get work at several farms round here.”
Madame Boncour threw back her head and laughed, showing the blackened teeth of her lower jaw.
“Look here,” she said at length, “after this week, it's finished. You either pay me, or...And I sleep very lightly, Monsieur.” Her voice took on suddenly its usual sleek singsong tone.
Andrews broke away and ran upstairs to his room.