"Yes, it was a capital article, and I wanted you to see the state it is
in."
"Very well, I see; very well. But I really do not understand what it can
have to do with me."
She began to feel uncomfortable; perhaps this Company did not pay for
such small articles, and she said:
"But--it is burnt."
He could not deny it.
"I see that very well," he replied.
She remained open-mouthed, not knowing what to say next; then suddenly
forgetting that she had left out the main thing, she said hastily:
"I am Mme. Oreille; we are assured in _La Maternelle_, and I have come
to claim the value of this damage."
"I only want you to have it re-covered," she added quickly, fearing a
positive refusal.
The manager was rather embarrassed, and said:
"But, really, Madame, we do not sell umbrellas; we cannot undertake such
kinds of repairs."
The little woman felt her courage reviving; she was not going to give up
without a struggle; she was not even afraid any more, and said:
"I only want you to pay me the cost of repairing it; I can quite well
get it done myself."
The gentleman seemed rather confused.
"Really, Madame, it is such a very small matter! We are never asked to
give compensation for such trivial losses. You must allow that we cannot
make good pocket-handkerchiefs, gloves, brooms, slippers, all the small
articles which are every day exposed to the chances of being burnt."
She got red, and felt inclined to fly into a rage.
"But, Monsieur, last December one of our chimneys caught fire, and
caused at least five hundred francs' damage; M. Oreille made no claim on
the Company, and so it is only just that it should pay for my umbrella
now."
The manager, guessing that she was telling a lie, said, with a smile.
"You must acknowledge, Madame, that it is very surprising that M.
Oreille should have asked no compensation for damages amounting to five
hundred francs, and should now claim five or six francs for mending an
umbrella."
She was not the least put out, and replied:
"I beg pardon, Monsieur, the five hundred francs affected M. Oreille's
pocket, whereas this damage, amounting to eighteen francs, concerns Mme.
Oreille's pocket only, which is a totally different matter."
As he saw that he had no chance of getting rid of her, and that he would
only be wasting his time, he said, resignedly:
"Will you kindly tell me how the damage was done?"
She felt that she had won the victory, and said:
"This is how it happened, Monsieur: In our hall there is a bronze
stick-and umbrella-stand, and the other day, when I came in, I put my
umbrella into it. I must tell you that just above there is a shelf for
the candlesticks and matches. I put out my hand, took three or four
matches, and struck one, but it missed fire, so I struck another, which
ignited, but went out immediately, and a third did the same."
The manager interrupted her, to make a joke.
"I suppose they were Government matches, then?"
She did not understand him, and went on:
"Very likely. At any rate, the fourth caught fire, and I lit my candle,
and went into my room to go to bed; but in a quarter-of-an-hour I
fancied that I smelt something burning, and I have always been terribly
afraid of fire. If ever we have an accident it will not be my fault, I
assure you. I am terribly nervous since our chimney was on fire, as I
told you; so I got up, and hunted about everywhere, sniffing like a dog
after game, and at last I noticed that my umbrella was burning. Most
likely a match had fallen between the folds and burnt it. You can see
how it has damaged it."
The manager had taken his clue, and asked her:
"What do you estimate the damage at?"
She did not know what to say, as she was not certain what amount to put
on it, but at last she replied:
"Perhaps you had better get it done yourself. I will leave it to you."
He, however, naturally refused.
"No, Madame, I cannot do that. Tell me the amount of your claim, that is
all I want to know."
"Well!--I think that--Look here, Monsieur, I do not want to make any
money out of you, so I will tell you what we will do. I will take my
umbrella to the maker, who will re-cover it in good, durable silk, and
I will bring the bill to you. Will that suit you, Monsieur?"
"Perfectly, Madame; we will settle it so. Here is a note for the
cashier, who will repay you whatever it costs you."
He gave Mme. Oreille a slip of paper, who took it, got up and went out,
thanking him, for she was in a hurry to escape lest he should change his
mind.
She went briskly through the streets, looking out for a really good
umbrella-maker, and when she found a shop which appeared to be a first
class one, she went in, and said, confidently:
"I want this umbrella recovered in silk, good silk. Use the very best
and strongest you have; I don't mind what it costs."