—­Your wife?  What, you are married?...

—­Does that surprise you?  My wife is an old she-goat who is good for nothing more.  Therefore I make no more use of her.  Come, let us be quick; into the costume of Eve, and if you absolutely keep to it, I will fasten a fig-leaf on to you.

But Zulma was not the girl to allow herself to be forced in this way; and the worthy old man, who wanted to add deeds to words, received a vigorous slap on the face.

He stopped, quite confused, and rubbed his cheek.

—­She has a strong wrist, he said.  Who would suspect that such a little hand could hit so hard?  But the ice is broken now, and you are going to pay me for it.

XCII.

THE SCAPULAR

“And the old bearded fellow rubbed away, pushed with his hips, embracing her in front:  clasped with his arms embracing her behind; stuffing at the chancellery, throwing her gently and collecting his strength, labouring with his chest, and even tripping her up:  he made use of all.”

  LEON CLADEL (Ompdrailles).

—­I shall scream, said Zulma, who was defending herself valiantly; I shall scream if you do not loose me.

—­Scream as much as you will, said the holy man as he recovered breath:  here the walls are deaf, and you will have to deal with me.

—­I just laugh at you.  You old Punch!

—­Old Punch!  Punch!

—­You ought to be ashamed.

—­You insult me; take care.

—­Let me go directly, or I shall know whom to complain to.

—­Ah, you assume that tone!  You want to make a complaint do you?  And to whom, you little wretch?

—­To whom it may concern.

—­Ah, what a fine expression you have learnt by heart.  Who is whom it may concern?  I do not know him.  Whoever he may be, whom it may concern will laugh in your face.  You, a daughter of the streets, a rope-dancer, a clown, a ragged slut, you would lodge a complaint against me!  Surely you do not know who I am.  I am an honourable man; known everywhere, respected everywhere.  Come, you see clearly that you are talking nonsense; be more reasonable again.  What! it pleases me to cast my eyes upon you, to want to pass a little while with you agreeably; I honour you by stooping myself to a girl of your kind, and you refuse, and are fastidious.  Has one ever seen such a thing?  It is enough to make God laugh.  Come, come now, not so many affectations:  for the lost time, how much do you want?  A hundred francs?

—­You horrify me.  Let me go away.

He cast a fearful look upon her, and said, with a laugh which chilled her blood: 

—­Oh, you want to go away.  Well, how about the money I have spent on you, and on your journey?

—­Your money!  I did not ask you for it.  But I will let you have it back again, be assured; when I have worked and earned it.