"My dear child," Madame Chapuzot would say, "that monster--" (a man
who contented himself with only looking, in a sly way,--not daring to
come out and say things,--and such a beautiful creature too, as
Malaga,--of course such a man was a monster, according to Madame
Chapuzot's ideas) "--that monster is trying to get a hold upon you,
and make you do something illegal and criminal. Holy Father, if you
should get into the police-courts! it makes me tremble from head to
foot; suppose they should put you in the newspapers! I'll tell you
what I should do in your place; I'd warn the police."
One particular day, after many foolish notions had fermented for some
time in Malaga's mind, Paz having laid his money as usual on the
mantel-piece, she seized the bits of gold and flung them in his face,
crying out, "I don't want stolen money!"
The captain gave the gold to Chapuzot, went away without a word, and
did not return.
Clementine was at this time at her uncle's place in Burgundy.
When the Circus troop discovered that Malaga had lost her Polish
count, much excitement was produced among them. Malaga's display of
honor was considered folly by some, and shrewdness by others. The
conduct of the Pole, however, even when discussed by the cleverest of
women, seemed inexplicable. Thaddeus received in the course of the
next week thirty-seven letters from women of their kind.
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