He did not wait for an answer.

“No?” he went on.  “Exactly.  The child was present, for the mother watches over it with a solicitude that promises much for the future, and I examined it leisurely.  It is very delicate, my dear sir, and like its father.  The poor baby!  I doubt if you, with all your skill, can make it live.  If it should die, as it is to be feared it will, it would not injure your reputation.  You can give it care, but not life.”

“Speaking of health,” interrupted Saniel, who did not wish to reply, “did you do what I advised about yourself?”

“Not yet.  The chemists of this quarter are only licensed cutthroats; but I am going this evening to see one of my clients who is a chemist, and he will deal honestly with me.”

“I will see you again, then.”

“When you wish, my dear sir; when you have reflected.  You have the password.”

Before leaving home Saniel gave his key to the concierge, so that on her arrival Phillis might go immediately to his rooms.  On his return the concierge told him that “madame” was up-stairs, and when he rang the bell, Phillis opened the door.

“Well?” she asked in a trembling voice, before he had time to enter.

“It is as I told you yesterday; he has found no one.”

She clasped him in a long, passionate embrace.

“And the upholsterer?”

“Caffie has promised to gain some time for me.”

While speaking, they entered the office.  A fire burned on the hearth, and an inviting dinner was on the table.  Saniel looked at it in surprise.

“I have set the table, you see; I am going to dine with you.”

And throwing herself in his arms: 

“Knowing Caffie better than you do, I knew what his answer would be, and I did not wish you to be alone on your return.  I made an excuse for not dining with mamma.”

“But this chicken?”

“We must have a piece de resistance.”

“This fire, and these candles?”

“There, that is the end of my economies.  I should have been so happy if they had been less miserable and more useful.”

As on the previous evening, they sat before the fire, and she began to talk of various things in order to distract him.  But what their lips did not say, their eyes, on meeting, expressed with more intensity than words could do.

It was Saniel who suddenly betrayed his preoccupation.

“Your brother studied Caffie well,” he said, as if speaking to himself.

“He did, indeed!”

“He is certainly the most thorough rascal that I have ever met.”

“He proposed something infamous, I am sure.”

“He proposed that I should marry.”

“I suspected that.”

“This is the reason why he refuses to lend me the money.  I was foolish enough to tell him frankly just how I am situated, and how important it is for me to be free until April.  He hopes that I shall be so pushed that I will accept one of the women whom he has proposed to me.  With the knife at my throat, I should have to yield.”