"You thought that I was lazy, did you not, monsieur?" said Violette as she curtsied to the count, "but don't scold me, it isn't that."
"In the first place, my child, I never think anything bad of you; but I was afraid that you might not be feeling well."
"Oh, no! monsieur, it isn't I who am sick; it's a poor gentleman--if you only knew how he suffers! it makes one's heart ache!"
"It is a neighbor of mine, a gentleman who lives in the same house, just below me, and who, when I was sick some time ago, was kind enough to come up to see me, to take an interest in me, and to order a medicine which cured me; and then he came sometimes to sit with me; so that it is quite natural now that I should try to be of some use to him, is it not, monsieur?"
"Certainly, and no one could blame you for it, my child."
"Besides that, I have an idea that this gentleman--oh! he won't admit it, but I am inclined to think that he is short of money, and that he can't supply himself with all that he needs to cure himself."
"Do you think so? But, if he is a worthy man, if he deserves, as you say, to be aided, we will come to his assistance."
"Oh! that won't be easy, I tell you, monsieur; for, you see, he is very, very proud, and won't allow anyone to lend him money. I was unfortunate enough last night to propose to go and order a prescription which the doctor had left for him. He said to me: 'How are you going to pay for it? I haven't given you any money.' I answered: 'Dear me! that doesn't make any difference; I have some money, and you can pay me back.'--At that, he shouted at me almost angrily: 'I don't propose to have anyone lend me money! I haven't asked you for it, I don't need any medicine, and I won't have it, I won't have anything!'--And it isn't possible to make him listen to reason. Aside from that, he is very good-natured, and whenever his pain grows a little less, he always has something amusing to say. The fact is, that he has a very _comme il faut_ manner, like you, monsieur; and perhaps he was once rich like you."
"Gout?--and his name--do you know his name?"
"Yes, his name is Monsieur de Roncherolle."
The count repeated the name with such evident surprise and agitation that the girl was terrified.