Nana was taken by surprise; she grew foolish and began crying.
"Ah, that's a pretty business," said the aunt, who had divined her meaning.
Nana had resigned herself to it for the sake of enjoying peace in her own home.

Then, too, the Tricon was to blame.

She had come across her in the Rue de Laval one fine day when Fontan had gone out raging about a dish of cod.

She had accordingly consented to the proposals made her by the Tricon, who happened just then to be in difficulty.

As Fontan never came in before six o'clock, she made arrangements for her afternoons and used to bring back forty francs, sixty francs, sometimes more.