"Can you hear them, sir?"

"You can hear them yourself now. What do you think of it? The woman will
kill herself, and you will be the cause of her death."

"I, sir? I have only asked them to pay me my just debts."

"Hush! there goes the husband. I am sure he is telling his wife in his
language that you are an unfeeling monster."

"He may tell her what he likes so long as he pays me."

"You have condemned them to die of hunger. How much do they owe you?"

"Fifty francs."

"Aren't you ashamed of making such a row for a wretched sum like that?"

"Sir, I am only ashamed of an ill deed, and I do not commit such a deed
in asking for my own."

"There's your money. Go and tell them that you have been paid, and that
they may eat again; but don't say who gave you the money."

"That's what I call a good action," said the fellow; and he went and told
them that they did not owe him anything, but that they would never know
who paid the money.

"You may dine and sup," he added, "at the public table, but you must pay
me day by day."