“Remember, monsieur, that your name is no longer Chamoureau; when anyone calls you by that name, don’t answer, but turn a deaf ear and go your way.”
“But, my dear love, there are people who have known me a long while, and who know perfectly well that my name is Chamoureau.”
“Tell those people once for all that you answer to no name but Belleville.”
“There are some who think that I live at Belleville, and that that’s what I mean.”
“Bah! monsieur, what difference does all that make? Suppose you should cease to be the friend of the pack of fools with whom you used to associate, where would be the harm?”
“That’s true; in that case, I cease to know my former acquaintances; I have a handsome fortune, and I ought not to frequent the same kind of society.”
“Oh! by the way, monsieur, there are two persons to whom I give you leave to speak, and even, if—if it will be agreeable to you to see them—you may ask them to call on us; I shall not be sorry to let them see the comfort and elegance of our home.”
“Very well, dear love; and who are these two persons whom you are kind enough to be willing to receive?”
“Monsieur Edmond Didier and his friend Freluchon.”
“Oho! why, if I’m not mistaken, you demanded, before marrying me, that I should break off all relations with those two gentlemen.”