She could hardly get out her words, but stammered: "I have come--I have
come on account of an accident, something--"
He very politely pointed out a seat to her.
"If you will kindly sit down I will attend to you in a moment."
And, returning to the other two, he went on with the conversation.
"The Company, gentlemen, does not consider that it is under any
obligation to you for more than four hundred thousand francs, and we can
pay no attention to your claim to the further sum of a hundred thousand,
which you wish to make us pay. Besides that, the surveyor's valuation--"
One of the others interrupted him:
"That is quite enough, Monsieur; the Law Courts will decide between us,
and we have nothing further to do than to take your leave." And they
went out after mutual ceremonious bows.
Oh! If she could only have gone away with them, how gladly she would
have done it; she would have run away and given up everything. But it
was too late, for the gentleman came back, and said, bowing:
"What can I do for you, Madame?"
She could scarcely speak, but at last she managed to say:
"I have come--for this."
The manager looked at the object which she held out to him in mute
astonishment.
With trembling fingers she tried to undo the elastic, and succeeded,
after several attempts, and hastily opened the damaged remains of the
umbrella.
"It looks to me to be in a very bad state of health," he said,
compassionately.
"It cost me twenty francs," she said, with some hesitation.