She went out little and affected a life of solitude and simplicity.

One morning early, when she had gone down to buy fish IN PROPRIA PERSONA in La Rouchefoucauld Market, she was vastly surprised to meet her old hair dresser Francis face to face.

His getup was as scrupulously careful as ever: he wore the finest linen, and his frock coat was beyond reproach; in fact, Nana felt ashamed that he should see her in the street with a dressing jacket and disordered hair and down-at-heel shoes.

But he had the tact, if possible, to intensify his politeness toward her.

He did not permit himself a single inquiry and affected to believe that Madame was at present on her travels.