After all, I think we shall have him." "He is our only danger now," the Marquise answered, "for Florimond is dead--of the fever," she added, with a sneering smile which gave Tressan sensations as of cold water on his spine.

"It were an irony of fate if that miserable lackey were to reach Paris now and spoil the triumph for which we have worked so hard." "It were, indeed," Tressan agreed with her, "and we must see that he does not." "But if he does," she returned, "then we must stand together." And with that she set her mind at ease once more, her mood that morning being very optimistic.
"Always, I hope, Clotilde," he answered, and his little eyes leered up out of the dimples of fat in which they were embedded.

"I have stood by you like a true friend in this affair; is it not so ?" "Indeed; do I deny it ?" she answered half scornfully.
"As I shall stand by you always when the need arises.

You are a little in my debt concerning Monsieur de Garnache." "I--I realize it," said she, and she felt again as if the sunshine were gone from the day, the blitheness from her heart.

She was moved to bid him cease leering at her and to take himself and his wooing to the devil.