She complained to M.Venot, begging him to take her little rough off to the countess.

Was their reconciliation good for nothing then?
She was sorry she had mixed herself up in it, since despite everything he was always at her heels.

On the days when, out of anger, she forgot her own interest, she swore to play him such a dirty trick that he would never again be able to set foot in her place.

But when she slapped her leg and yelled at him she might quite as well have spat in his face too: he would still have stayed and even thanked her.

Then the rows about money matters kept continually recurring.