He asked me now at once for money, and a little later again and again.

Formerly he had invented pretexts; he had not received his allowance when he expected it, or he was bothered by a bill and so forth; but now he simply begged and begged, railing the while at fortune.

It was distressing.

He wanted money constantly, and spent it as always like water, without a thought.
I asked him one day whether he had seen much of his soldier boy since he had returned to Paris.
"I have seen him, Frank, but not often," and he laughed gaily.

"It's a farce-comedy; sentiment always begins romantically and ends in laughter--_tabulae solvuntur risu_.