Then she felt her legs give way.

She was frightened that she might burst into tears, and she still stammered: "It would be kind of you! You don't know.

Yes, I'm reduced to that, good Lord--reduced to that!" Thereupon the Lorilleuxs pursed their lips and exchanged covert glances.
So Clump-clump was begging now! Well, the fall was complete.

But they did not care for that kind of thing by any means.

If they had known, they would have barricaded the door, for people should always be on their guard against beggars--folks who make their way into apartments under a pretext and carry precious objects away with them; and especially so in this place, as there was something worth while stealing.