Occasionally, the General leaned from the
carriage window to see if the vehicle laden with Mademoiselle
Marguerite's trunks was following them, but he said nothing.
At last they reached his residence in the Rue Pigalle. He
alighted first, offered his hand successively to his wife,
Mademoiselle Marguerite, and Madame Leon, and motioned the
coachman to drive away.
But the man did not stir. "Pardon--excuse me, monsieur," he said,
"but my employers bade--requested me----"
"What?"
"To ask you--you know, for the fare--thirty-five francs--not
counting the little gratuity."
"Very well!--I will pay you to-morrow."
"Excuse me, monsieur; but if it is all the same to you, would you
do so this evening? My employer said that the bill had been
standing a long time already."
"What, scoundrel!"
But Madame de Fondege, who was on the point of entering the house,
suddenly stepped back, and drawing out her pocketbook, exclaimed:
"That's enough! Here are thirty-five francs."
The man went to his carriage lamp to count the money, and seeing
that he had the exact amount--"And my gratuity?" he asked.
"I give none to insolent people," replied the General.
"You should take a cab if you haven't money enough to pay for
coaches," replied the driver with an oath. "I'll be even with you
yet."
Marguerite heard no more, for Madame de Fondege caught her by the
arm and hurried her up the staircase, saying: "Quick! we must make
haste.
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