He had been married fourteen years, but his name was quite unknown, save to the people of Agen.

It was well known in the town that he had a talent for versification, for he was accustomed to recite and chaunt his verses to his customers.
One quiet morning M.Nodier was taking a leisurely walk along the promenade of the Gravier, when he was attracted by a loud altercation going on between a man and a woman in the barber's shop.

The woman was declaiming with the fury of a Xantippe, while the man was answering her with Homeric laughter.

Nodier entered the shop, and found himself in the presence of Jasmin and his wife.

He politely bowed to the pair, and said that he had taken the liberty of entering to see whether he could not establish some domestic concord between them.
"Is that all you came for ?" asked the wife, at the same time somewhat calmed by the entrance of a stranger.