seemed anxious to hurry away, but the other detained her. "Wait a
moment," said she. "What do you offer?"

"No, no, I can't take it. It is much too dear."

"Come, now, make me an offer."

"Well, will you take eight francs?"

Old Madame Mehudin, who was there, suddenly seemed to wake up, and
broke out into a contemptuous laugh. Did people think that she and her
daughter stole the fish they sold? "Eight francs for a brill that size!"
she exclaimed. "You'll be wanting one for nothing next, to use as a
cooling plaster!"

Meantime La Normande turned her head away, as though greatly offended.
However, the servant came back twice and offered nine francs; and
finally she increased her bid to ten.

"All right, come on, give me your money!" cried the fish-girl, seeing
that the woman was now really going away.

The servant took her stand in front of the stall and entered into a
friendly gossip with old Madame Mehudin. Madame Taboureau, she said, was
so exacting! She had got some people coming to dinner that evening, some
cousins from Blois a notary and his wife. Madame Taboureau's family,
she added, was a very respectable one, and she herself, although only a
baker, had received an excellent education.

"You'll clean it nicely for me, won't you?" added the woman, pausing in