"But we sell everything for nothing!" he exclaimed gaily, taking up Madame Desforges's fan, which lay behind him on the table. "For instance, here's this fan. How much do you say it cost."
"The Chantilly cost twenty-five francs, and the mounting two hundred," said Henriette.
"Well, the Chantilly isn't dear. However, we have the same at eighteen francs; as for the mount, my dear madame, it's a shameful robbery. I should not dare to sell one like it for more than ninety francs."
"Just what I said!" exclaimed Madame Bourdelais.
"Ninety francs!" murmured Madame de Boves, "one must be very poor indeed to go without one at that price."
She had taken up the fan, and was again examining it with her daughter Blanche; and, over her large regular face and in her big, sleepy eyes, spread an expre
