I have been in business since I was fifteen years old." "And what was your business ?" asked Madame de Bellegarde, who was decidedly not so pretty as Madame de Cintre.
"I have been in everything," said Newman.

"At one time I sold leather; at one time I manufactured wash-tubs." Madame de Bellegarde made a little grimace.

"Leather?
I don't like that.
Wash-tubs are better.

I prefer the smell of soap.

I hope at least they made your fortune." She rattled this off with the air of a woman who had the reputation of saying everything that came into her head, and with a strong French accent.
Newman had spoken with cheerful seriousness, but Madame de Bellegarde's tone made him go on, after a meditative pause, with a certain light grimness of jocularity.