"But I believe you rode home last night. Do the omnibuses run as late as that nowadays?"
"Omnibuses! Understand, Widow Louchard, that when I come home after midnight, I always come in a coupé or a cab."
"Peste! so the funds have gone up, have they? You'd better give me something on account."
"Don't bother me! I gave you ten francs."
"That was two months ago."
"That's not the question. Has anybody called to see me this morning?"
"No, not a cat."
"Not a cat! Oh! the cowards!"
"Why do you say that cats are cowards? Mine would fight a bulldog."
"I'm not talking about your cat, Widow Louchard; but about a lot of braggarts, all of whom challenged me yesterday, and who don't dare to call on me to-day."