The query made Florestan laugh.

"Madame does not bother herself about her lord and master, I can assure
you. Sometimes they don't meet for weeks. All she wants is plenty of
money. And ain't we just dunned!"

"But the Mussidans are wealthy?"

"Tremendously so, but at times there is not the value of a franc in the
house. Then Madame is like a tigress, and would sent to borrow from all
her friends."

"But she must feel much humiliated?"

"Not a bit; when she wants a heavy amount, she sends off to the Duke de
Champdoce, and he always parts; but she doesn't mince matters with him."

"It would seem as if you had known the contents of your mistress's
letters?" remarked Mascarin with a smile.

"Of course I have; I like to know what is in the letters I carry about.
She only says, 'My good friend, I want so much,' and back comes the
money without a word. Of course it is easy to see that there has been
something between them."

"Yes, evidently."

"And when master and missus do meet they only have rows, and such rows!
When the working man has had a drop too much, he beats his wife, she
screams, then they kiss and make it up; but the Mussidans say things to