if I don't succeed in organizing a little crusade against you."
And animated by the sound of his own words, his anger came back to
him, and in a louder and ever louder voice he continued: "Ah! you
prate of the scandal that would be created by my resistance to
your demands. That's your system; but, with me, it won't succeed.
You threaten me with a law-suit; very good. I'll take it upon
myself to enlighten Paris, for I know your secrets, Mr.
Dressmaker. I know the goings on in your establishment. It isn't
always to talk about dress that ladies stop at your place on
returning from the Bois. You sell silks and satins no doubt; but
you sell Madeira, and excellent cigarettes as well, and there are
some who don't walk very straight on leaving your establishment,
but smell suspiciously of tobacco and absinthe. Oh, yes, let us
go to law, by all means! I shall have an advocate who will know
how to explain the parts your customers pay, and who will reveal
how, with your assistance, they obtain money from other sources
than their husband's cash-box."

When M. Van Klopen was addressed in this style, he was not at all
pleased. "And I!" he exclaimed, "I will tell people that Baron
Trigault, after losing all his money at play, repays his creditors
with curses."

The noise of an overturned chair told Pascal that the baron had
sprung up in a furious passion "You may say what you like, you
rascally fool! but not in my house," he shouted. "Leave--leave,
or I will ring----"

"Monsieur----"