Both ladies took lumps of sugar dipped in cognac and sucked them.

But Mme Maloir was wont to listen to other people's secrets without even confessing anything concerning herself.

People said that she lived on a mysterious allowance in a room whither no one ever penetrated.
All of a sudden Nana grew excited.
"Don't play with the knives, Aunt.

You know it gives me a turn!" Without thinking about it Mme Lerat had crossed two knives on the table in front of her.

Notwithstanding this, the young woman defended herself from the charge of superstition.