And at this instant the door opened, and there entered briskly a comely wench, wearing an apron, and no hat.
"Ah!" gasped Pariset and Suzanne together.
"Ah!" exclaimed the fat woman, jubilant. "Everything arranges itself! Now I know this one. I recommend her. You can take a place to-day, Marceline? Good! It is forty francs a month, as usual, and you sleep in, hein?"
"Fifty. And I sleep out—with my aunt," said Marceline, promptly, seizing the circumstances.
"I agree," announced the eager clients, in a duet.
"Mais, monsieur——" remonstrated Suzanne, dismayed.
"Mais, mademoiselle——" expostulated Pariset.
"Enfin, take her! I yield her to you. My children pine for her care, but we will suffer!"
"I am averse from appearing selfish, monsieur——"
"Ah, chivalry forbids that I wrench this unique boon from your arms, mademoiselle."