"I agree with you. Neither place would have you. You are not good enough for one and not bad enough for the other." She began to enjoy the situation. "I have half a mind to take away that check. It would not pay, but still—"
"I regret—I apologize." He began to fear lest this terrible old woman might have a whole mind in regard to the check.
"Oh," she laughed, "keep it. But I swear to you by all my other gods that if you lie any more about my friends, I shall tell the story Dr. Abernethy told me. In your greed and distrust of men whose simple word is as sure as their bond, you threaten to tell a tale. Well, I will exchange stories with you. I shall improve mine, too."
"Ah," he cried, "you do promise, and keep no word. You have told already Schmidt of me."
"I did—and one other; but now the whole town shall hear. You were ingenious, but the poor highwayman was too well hanged."
Chovet grew pale. "Oh, Madame, you would not. I should be ruined."
"Then be careful and—go away. I sometimes lose my temper, but never my memory. Remember."
He looked up at the big woman as she stood flushed with anger, and exclaiming under his breath, "Quelle diablesse!" went out scared and uneasy.
Looking from the window, she saw him walk away. His hands hung limp at his sides, his head was dropped on his breast; not even Ça Ira looked more dejected.