The usurer’s wife had thrown away her efforts. She decided to return to her friends, who had been so taken aback by the arrival of the owner of the Tower that Madame Droguet had fallen against Monsieur Luminot, who fell against Madame Remplumé, who fell against her husband, who fell against Monsieur Droguet, who, having no one to fall against, contented himself with dropping on the ground the big bellows that he had been told to hold under his arm.
“What does this mean? that bear here!”
“And with his dog!”
“He never goes out without him!”
“I beg your pardon! I’ve seen him without his dog!”
“What has he come to this sale for? a man who avoids society as he does!”
“It isn’t natural!”
“You might say that it’s most extraordinary!”
“What! you don’t understand why he has come here? It’s evident enough however!” said Madame Droguet, smiling maliciously; “aren’t the sirens from the Courtivaux house here?”
“Oh! to be sure! they are here, so he comes here! What penetration Madame Droguet has!”