Then while Zoe was at length busy clearing the table, bringing the plates out one by one and putting them in the sink, two other rings followed close upon one another.

But they weren't serious, for while keeping the kitchen informed of what was going on she twice repeated her disdainful expression: "Nothing, only a bouquet." Notwithstanding which, the old ladies laughed between two of their tricks when they heard her describe the looks of the creditors in the anteroom after the flowers had arrived.

Madame would find her bouquets on her toilet table.

What a pity it was they cost such a lot and that you could only get ten sous for them! Oh dear, yes, plenty of money was wasted! "For my part," said Mme Maloir, "I should be quite content if every day of my life I got what the men in Paris had spent on flowers for the women." "Now, you know, you're not hard to please," murmured Mme Lerat.

"Why, one would have only just enough to buy thread with.