“And that is nothing, is it?” retorted the young woman.  “A man who respects himself, my friend, may allow his own signature to be dishonoured, but never that of his mistress!  Do you wish to destroy my credit altogether?  You know very well that the only consideration I receive is what my money pays for.  So as soon as I am unable to pay, it will be all up with me.”

“My dear Juliette,” began the advocate gently.

“Oh, yes! that’s all very fine,” interrupted she.  “Your dear Juliette! your adored Juliette! so long as you are here it is really charming; but no sooner are you outside than you forget everything.  Do you ever remember then that there is such a person as Juliette?”

“How unjust you are!” replied Noel.  “Do you not know that I am always thinking of you; have I not proved it to you a thousand times?  Look here!  I am going to prove it to you again this very instant.”  He withdrew from his pocket the small packet he had taken out of his bureau drawer, and, undoing it, showed her a handsome velvet casket.  “Here,” said he exultingly, “is the bracelet you longed for so much a week ago at Beaugrau’s.”

Madame Juliette, without rising, held out her hand to take the casket, and, opening it with the utmost indifference, just glanced at the jewel, and merely said, “Ah!”

“Is this the one you wanted?” asked Noel.

“Yes, but it looked much prettier in the shop window.”  She closed the casket, and threw it carelessly on to a small table near her.

“I am unfortunate this evening,” said the advocate, much mortified.

“How so?”

“I see plainly the bracelet does not please you.”

“Oh, but it does.  I think it lovely . . . besides, it will complete the two dozen.”

It was now Noel’s turn to say:  “Ah! . . .” and as Juliette said nothing, he added:  “Well, if you are pleased, you do not show it.”

“Oh! so that is what you are driving at!” cried the lady.  “I am not grateful enough to suit you!  You bring me a present, and I ought at once to pay cash, fill the house with cries of joy, and throw myself upon my knees before you, calling you a great and magnificent lord!”

Noel was unable this time to restrain a gesture of impatience, which Juliette perceived plainly enough, to her great delight.

“Would that be sufficient?” continued she.  “Shall I call Charlotte, so that she may admire this superb bracelet, this monument of your generosity?  Shall I have the concierge up, and call the cook to tell them how happy I am to possess such a magnificent lover.”

The advocate shrugged his shoulders like a philosopher, incapable of noticing a child’s banter.  “What is the use of these insulting jests?” said he.  “If you have any real complaint against me, better to say so simply and seriously.”

“Very well,” said Juliette, “let us be serious.  And, that being so, I will tell you it would have been better to have forgotten the bracelet, and to have brought me last night or this morning the eight thousand francs I wanted.”