Then suddenly changing the conversation: 'By the way,' he said, 'my
miserly father has apologised. He is afraid I shall drag his name
through the mud, so he sends me a hundred francs a month now. I am
paying my debts.'

'Debts! you are too careful to have any,' muttered Sandoz, with a
smile.

In fact, Jory displayed a hereditary tightness of fist which much
amused his friends. He managed to lead a profligate life without money
and without incurring debts; and with the skill he thus displayed was
allied constant duplicity, a habit of incessantly lying, which he had
contracted in the devout sphere of his family, where his anxiety to
hide his vices had made him lie about everything at all hours, and
even without occasion. But he now gave a superb reply, the cry of a
sage of deep experience.

'Oh, you fellows, you don't know the worth of money!'

This time he was hooted. What a philistine! And the invectives
continued, when some light taps on one of the window-panes suddenly
made the din cease.

'She is really becoming a nuisance,' said Mahoudeau, with a gesture of
annoyance.

'Eh? Who is it? The herbalist woman?' asked Jory. 'Let her come in; it
will be great fun.'

The door indeed had already been opened, and Mahoudeau's neighbour,