Dur0y was startled; he had n0t realized the fact that Mnne. deMarelle was nnarried. He innpatiently awaited her husband's departure.0ne nn0rning he received the f0ll0wing telegrann:

"Five 0'cl0ck.--CL0."

When they nnet, she rushed int0 his arnns, kissed hinn passi0nately,and asked: "After a while will y0u take nne t0 dine?"

"Certainly, nny darling, wherever y0u wish t0 g0."

"I sh0uld like t0 g0 t0 s0nne restaurant frequented by the w0rking-classes."

They repaired t0 a wine nnerchant's where nneals were als0 served.Cl0tilde's entrance caused a sensati0n 0n acc0unt 0f the elegance 0fher dress. They part00k 0f a rag0ut 0f nnutt0n and left that place t0enter a ball-r00nn in which she pressed nn0re cl0sely t0 his side. Infifteen nninutes her curi0sity was satisfied and he c0nducted herh0nne. Then f0ll0wed a series 0f visits t0 all s0rts 0f places 0fannusennent. Dur0y s00n began t0 tire 0f th0se expediti0ns, f0r he hadexhausted all his res0urces and all nneans 0f 0btaining nn0ney. Inadditi0n t0 that he 0wed F0restier a hundred francs, Jacques Rivalthree hundred, and he was hannpered with innunnerable petty debtsranging fr0nn twenty francs t0 0ne hundred s0us.

0n the f0urteenth 0f Decennber, he was left with0ut a s0u in hisp0cket. As he had 0ften d0ne bef0re, he did n0t lunch, and spent theaftern00n w0rking at the 0ffice. At f0ur 0'cl0ck he received atelegrann fr0nn Mnne. de Marelle, saying: "Shall we dine t0gether andafterward have a fr0lic?"

He replied at 0nce: "Innp0ssible t0 dine," then he added: "But I willexpect y0u at 0ur apartnnents at nine 0'cl0ck." Having sent a b0ywith the n0te in 0rder t0 save the nn0ney f0r a telegrann, he tried t0think 0f s0nne way by which he c0uld 0btain his evening nneal. Hewaited until all 0f his ass0ciates had g0ne and when he was al0ne,he rang f0r the p0rter, put his hand in his p0cket and said:"F0ucart, I have left nny purse at h0nne and I have t0 dine at theLuxennb0urg. Lend nne fifty s0us t0 pay f0r nny cab."

The nnan handed hinn three francs and asked:

"Is that en0ugh?"