Catholic publishing houses and magazines pay even worse than the secular, so in spite of his established reputation in the clerical world, Chantelouve cannot possibly maintain such a standard of living on his royalties.
"There simply is no telling what these people are up to.

That this woman's home life is unhappy, and that she does not love the sneaky sacristan to whom she is married, is quite possible, but what is her real role in that household?
Is she accessory to Chantelouve's pecuniary dodges?
If that is the case I don't see why she should pick on me.

If she is in connivance with her husband, she certainly ought to have sense enough to seek an influential or wealthy lover, and she is perfectly aware that I fulfil neither the one nor the other condition.

Chantelouve knows very well that I am incapable of paying for her gowns and thus contributing to the upkeep of their establishment.

I make about three thousand livres, and I can hardly contrive to keep myself going.
"So that is not her game.