"
When M. Van Klopen was addressed in this style, he was not at all
pleased. "And I!" he exclaimed, "I will tell people that Baron
Trigault, after losing all his money at play, repays his creditors
with curses."
The noise of an overturned chair told Pascal that the baron had
sprung up in a furious passion "You may say what you like, you
rascally fool! but not in my house," he shouted. "Leave--leave,
or I will ring----"
"Monsieur----"
"Leave, leave, I tell you, or I sha'n't have the patience to wait
for a servant!"
He must have joined action to word, and have seized Van Klopen by
the collar to thrust him into the hall, for Pascal heard a sound
of scuffling, a series of oaths worthy of a coal-heaver, two or
three frightened cries from the baroness, and several guttural
exclamations in German. Then a door closed with such violence
that the whole house shook, and a magnificent clock, fixed to the
wall of the smoking-room, fell on to the floor.
If Pascal had not heard this scene, he would have deemed it
incredible. How could one suppose that a creditor would leave
this princely mansion with his bill unpaid? But more and more
clearly he understood that there must be some greater cause of
difference between husband and wife than this bill of twenty-eight
thousand francs. For what was this amount to a confirmed gambler
who, without as much as a frown, gained or lost a fortune every
evening of his life.
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