In a moment he had turned out all his pockets, those of his trousers,
coat, and waistcoat, and murmured: "There, are you satisfied now?"
Suddenly opening her arms, in an outburst of passion, she threw them
around his neck, crying: "Oh, my poor darling, my poor darling, if I had
only known. How did it happen?"
She made him sit down, and sat down herself on his knees; then, with her
arm round his neck, kissing him every moment on his moustache, his
mouth, his eyes, she obliged him to tell her how this misfortune had
come about.
He invented a touching story. He had been obliged to come to the
assistance of his father, who found himself in difficulties. He had not
only handed over to him all his savings, but had even incurred heavy
debts on his behalf. He added: "I shall be pinched to the last degree
for at least six months, for I have exhausted all my resources. So much
the worse; there are crises in every life. Money, after all, is not
worth troubling about."