“Pray ask him to come—not before his wife, mind!” At the top of the stairs an umbrella was placed against the wall near a pair of goloshes. “Vatnaz’s goloshes,” said Rosanette. “What a foot, eh? My little friend is rather strongly built!” And, in a melodramatic tone, making the final letter of the word roll: “Don’t tru-us-st her!” Frederick, emboldened by a confidence of this sort, tried to kiss her on the neck. “Oh, do it! It costs nothing!” He felt rather light-hearted as he left her, having no doubt that ere long the Maréchale would be his mistress. This desire awakened another in him; and, in spite of the species of grudge that he owed her, he felt a longing to see Madame Arnoux. Besides, he would have to call at her house in order to execute the commission with which he had be

