“Oh, really? Give it to me. Thank you! Thank you very much indeed! How much did it cost you?”

“Nothing.... A mere trifle.”

“No, no, that’s not possible. Please tell me how much you paid for it.

“Won’t you accept this small favour from me?”

“No; for I realize that it must have cost you a lot.”

“Bah!”

“I’ll find out, and then we’ll talk about it further.”

Remedios, approaching Quentin mysteriously, said to him:

“Is it true that there is a store in your house?”

“Yes.”