Muffat had grown ashen-pale.

There was no question of the young man now.

This would teach him to be lacking in gratitude! Meanwhile the house had not been entirely furnished, when one evening after she had lavished the most energetic promises of fidelity on Muffat Nana kept the Count Xavier de Vandeuvres for the night.

For the last fortnight he had been paying her assiduous court, visiting her and sending presents of flowers, and now she gave way not so much out of sudden infatuation as to prove that she was a free woman.

The idea of gain followed later when, the day after, Vandeuvres helped her to pay a bill which she did not wish to mention to the other man.