"No, I give you my word that I haven't an idea."
"Well, it's a pipe case—a filthy pipe case, which smells pestiferous. The pipe isn't inside; probably the person to whom it belongs was smoking when he went away."
Nathalie blushed and frowned slightly, but said nothing. Adhémar's wrath waxed hotter; he scrutinized the case anew, then handed it to the young woman.
"Here, madame—pray take it; you can return it to the man who owns it. Ah! so I was not mistaken the other day in thinking that you had received a visitor who smoked?"
"Well, monsieur, suppose it were true? All men smoke, nowadays."
"All men? Aha! so you admit now that you have received a man—and in your bedroom! Who is he? where did he come from? what did he come here for? How long has he been coming here? Answer me, madame!"
"No, monsieur, no; I will not answer when I am questioned as you question me!"
"Oh, yes! that's an excellent scheme, I see! When you women can't think up a lie on the spur of the moment, you fall back on your dignity. That does very well with simpletons, but I hoped that you wouldn't treat me as one of them. I had too much self-esteem!"
"Adhémar, this is a very brutal way to talk to me! Is this how you keep your promises?"
"Madame, a man is never jealous without some reason. I was right before; I have the proof of it to-day. You must have intrigues, since you conceal from me the visits you receive. And when a woman has intrigues, when she receives men in secret—why, everybody knows what that means!"