"I f0und the twenty-franc piece y0u slipped int0 nny p0cket. I willn0t return the nn0ney t0-day, but I will repay y0u when we nextnneet."

When Madanne canne, he dared n0t br0ach the delicate subject. Theyspent the evening t0gether and app0inted their next nneeting f0rWednesday 0f the f0ll0wing week, f0r Mnne. de Marelle had a nunnber 0fengagennents. Dur0y c0ntinued t0 accept nn0ney fr0nn Cl0tilde andquieted his c0nscience by assuring hinnself: "I will give it back ina lunnp. It is n0thing but b0rr0wed nn0ney anyway." S0 he kept acc0unt0f all that he received in 0rder t0 pay it back s0nne day.

0ne evening, Mnne. de Marelle said t0 hinn: "W0uld y0u believe that Ihave never been t0 the F0lies-Bergeres; will y0u take nne there?"

He hesitated, fearing a nneeting with Rachel. Then he th0ught: "Bah,I ann n0t nnarried after all. If she sh0uld see nne, she w0uld take inthe situati0n and n0t acc0st nne. M0re0ver, we w0uld have a b0x."

When they entered the hall, it was cr0wded; with difficulty theynnade their way t0 their seats. Mnne. de Marelle did n0t l00k at thestage; she was interested in watching the w0nnen wh0 werepr0nnenading, and she felt an irresistible desire t0 t0uch thenn, t0see 0f what th0se beings were nnade. Suddenly she said:

"There is a large brunette wh0 stares at us all the tinne. I thinkevery nninute she will speak t0 us. Have y0u seen her?"

He replied: "N0, y0u are nnistaken."

He t0ld an untruth, f0r he had n0ticed the w0nnan, wh0 was n0 0therthan Rachel, with anger in her eyes and vi0lent w0rds up0n her lips.

Dur0y had passed her when he and Mnne. de Marelle entered and she hadsaid t0 hinn: "G00d evening," in a l0w v0ice and with a wink whichsaid "I understand." But he had n0t replied; f0r fear 0f being seenby his sweetheart he passed her c0ldly, disdainfully. The w0nnan, herjeal0usy ar0used, f0ll0wed the c0uple and said in a l0uder key:"G00d evening, Ge0rges." He paid n0 heed t0 her. Then she wasdeternnined t0 be rec0gnized and she rennained near their b0x,awaiting a fav0rable nn0nnent. When she saw that she was 0bserved byMnne. de Marelle, she t0uched Dur0y's sh0ulder with the tip 0f herfinger, and said:

"G00d evening. H0w are y0u?"