"The deuce! really? isn’t it a joke?"
"No, Fifine, nothing can be truer. I am immensely rich and I shall soon have a château, because I am determined to have one."
"What! you are rich, and you didn’t tell me right away! you keep me on the anxious seat two hours!—Well, well! won’t we have some fun! Let’s dance and jump and raise a rumpus!—You are rich, and you sit there like a mummy!"
And Fifine seized Robineau’s arm and compelled him to dance around the room with her; but he shook himself free at last and resumed his seat, while Fifine continued to dance and jump over the chairs and the furniture.
"Assuredly, Fifine," said Robineau, sitting very erect, "I desire that you should enjoy yourself; indeed I shall be delighted to be of service to you when the opportunity presents itself, and you may rely on my interest; but as to your continuing to be my mistress, you must see that it is impossible, and that my social position will not permit me to see you as—as before."
Fifine, who was standing on the commode at that moment, in the attitude of Psyche, landed at Robineau’s side with one leap, crying:
"What’s that you’re mumbling?—your social position—you don’t propose to see me as before?—Do me the favor to explain yourself a little better."
"It seems to me to be clear enough, my dear Fifine. I still have the utmost regard for you; indeed I propose to prove it to you to-morrow by making you a present of a beautiful shawl of unspun silk—whatever color you choose—I don’t care. But I say that I can no longer be your lover, nor go out with you, because my present circumstances and my new position in society forbid."
Fifine, who had listened attentively, did not move for some seconds; then she went to the mantel, took her candle from the candlestick, and, before leaving the room, took her stand in front of its tenant, who still sat in his chair.
"I thought that you were only a stupid fool, but I see that you are an ingrate!" she said, smiling bitterly. "You don’t propose to see me, because a fortune has fallen into your hands. That is very noble! It is a resolution worthy of you! As for the present you mean to give me, keep it for the women who will sponge on you and make fun of you all the time—you’ll find that you’ll never have too much for them."