She would have sent Mme Lerat, whom she was expecting that very morning, to Rambouillet.

The counteraction of her sudden fancy spoiled for her the triumph of last night.

Among all those men who had cheered her, to think that there wasn't one to bring her fifteen louis! And then one couldn't accept money in that way! Dear heaven, how unfortunate she was! And she kept harking back again to the subject of her baby--he had blue eyes like a cherub's; he could lisp "Mamma" in such a funny voice that you were ready to die of laughing! But at this moment the electric bell at the outer door was heard to ring with its quick and tremulous vibration.

Zoe returned, murmuring with a confidential air: "It's a woman." She had seen this woman a score of times, only she made believe never to recognize her and to be quite ignorant of the nature of her relations with ladies in difficulties.
"She has told me her name--Madame Tricon." "The Tricon," cried Nana.

"Dear me! That's true.