satisfying of Van Klopen's demands, for concealing the anger this
humiliating scene undoubtedly caused her, she condescended to try
and explain, and even to entreat. "I have been a little
extravagant, perhaps," she said; "but I will be more prudent in
future. Pay, monsieur--pay just once more."

"No!"

"If not for my sake, for your own."

"Not a farthing."

By the baron's tone, Pascal realized that his wife would never
shake his fixed determination. Such must also have been the
opinion of the illustrious ruler of fashion, for he returned to
the charge with an argument he had held in reserve. "If this is
the case, I shall, to my great regret, be obliged to fail in the
respect I owe to Monsieur le Baron, and to place this bill in the
hands of a solicitor."

"Send him along--send him along."

"I cannot believe that monsieur wishes a law-suit."

"In that you are greatly mistaken. Nothing would please me
better. It would at last give me an opportunity to say what I
think about your dealings. Do you think that wives are to turn
their husbands into machines for supplying money? You draw the
bow-string too tightly, my dear fellow--it will break. I'll
proclaim on the house-top what others dare not say, and we'll see