"Did you ever find Ducharme?"
The Duchesse nodded sombrely, closing her eyes.
"The woman shook him time of the strikes, when his money was gone."
"Well, isn't that what you wanted?"
Mrs. Ducharme nodded her head slowly.
"She made him bad. He drinks, awful sometimes, and whenever I say anything, he says he's going back to Peory, to that woman."
Alves waited for the expected request for money. "They'se awful, these men; but a woman can't get on without 'em, no more than the men without us. Only the men don't care much which one. Any one will do for a time. Do you find the new one any better?"
"I am very happy," Alves replied with a flush; "but I don't care to talk about my affairs."
"You needn't be so close," the woman exclaimed irritably. "I know all about you. The real one was a fine gentleman, even if he did liquor bad."
"I told you," Alves repeated, "that I didn't care to talk of my affairs.
What do you want?"