She had some work done by a neighboring painter some eight or ten months before; and the workman had presented himself a hundred times to receive payment, without avail.

Tired of this proceeding, he had summoned the high and mighty Marchioness d'Arlange before the Justice of the Peace.
This summons had exasperated the marchioness; but she kept the matter to herself, having decided, in her wisdom, to call upon the judge and request him to reprimand the insolent painter who had dared to plague her for a paltry sum of money.

The result of this fine project may be guessed.

The judge had been compelled to eject her forcibly from his office; hence her fury.
M.Daburon found her in the rose-colored boudoir half undressed, her hair in disorder, red as a peony, and surrounded by the debris of the glass and china which had fallen under her hands in the first moments of her passion.

Unfortunately, too, Claire and her governess were gone out.
A maid was occupied in inundating the old lady with all sorts of waters, in the hope of calming her nerves.
She received Daburon as a messenger direct from Providence.