“I’ve no need of anything,” was Florent’s invariable answer.  “I shouldn’t know what to do with the money if I had it.”

“Oh, you’re no man!” cried La Normande, losing all control over herself.  “It’s pitiful!  Can’t you see that the Quenus are laughing at you?  That great fat thing passes all her husband’s old clothes over to you.  I’m not saying this to hurt your feelings, but everybody makes remarks about it.  Why, the whole neighbourhood has seen the greasy pair of trousers, which you’re now wearing, on your brother’s legs for three years and more!  If I were in your place I’d throw their dirty rags in their faces, and insist upon my rights.  Your share comes to forty-two thousand five hundred francs, doesn’t it?  Well, I shouldn’t go out of the place till I’d got forty-two thousand five hundred francs.”

It was useless for Florent to explain to her that his sister-in-law had offered to pay him his share, that she was taking care of it for him, and that it was he himself who had refused to receive it.  He entered into the most minute particulars, seeking to convince her of the Quenus’ honesty, but she sarcastically replied:  “Oh, yes, I dare say!  I know all about their honesty.  That fat thing folds it up every morning and puts it away in her wardrobe for fear it should get soiled.  Really, I quite pity you, my poor friend.  It’s easy to gull you, for you can’t see any further than a child of five.  One of these days she’ll simply put your money in her pocket, and you’ll never look on it again.  Shall I go, now, and claim your share for you, just to see what she says?  There’d be some fine fun, I can tell you!  I’d either have the money, or I’d break everything in the house—­I swear I would!”

“No, no, it’s no business of yours,” Florent replied, quite alarmed.  “I’ll see about it; I may possibly be wanting some money soon.”

At this La Normande assumed an air of doubt, shrugged her shoulders, and told him that he was really too chicken-hearted.  Her one great aim now was to embroil him with the Quenu-Gradelles, and she employed every means she could think of to effect her purpose, both anger and banter, as well as affectionate tenderness.  She also cherished another design.  When she had succeeded in marrying Florent, she would go and administer a sound cuffing to beautiful Lisa, if the latter did not yield up the money.  As she lay awake in her bed at night she pictured every detail of the scene.  She saw herself sitting down in the middle of the pork shop in the busiest part of the day, and making a terrible fuss.  She brooded over this idea to such an extent, it obtained such a hold upon her, that she would have been willing to marry Florent simply in order to be able to go and demand old Gradelle’s forty-two thousand five hundred francs.