You must not wait for them to ask for
this or that; you must come up to the door and say 'Will not the young
lady have a cup of chocolate?' or whatever you can suggest--fruit,
biscuits, wine, or what not. And as these little extras will cost you
something, I cannot allow you to be out of pocket; so here is a fund for
you to draw from; and, of course, not a word to either of the ladies. I
think you understand?"
"Perfectly, sir," said madame.
"Then, if I hear that you have been very kind and obliging, I suppose
one might be allowed from time to time to send you a little
present--something to beautify your house with? You have pretty rooms;
you have shown great taste in decorating them."
"Oh, not I, sir," said the little Frenchwoman; "I took the house as it
stands from Mr. ----."
"The architect," said Brand. "Ah, that explains. But I am surprised he
should have used gas."
"That _was_ my doing," said the landlady, with some pride. "It is a
great improvement. It is so convenient, is it not?"
"My dear madame," said Brand, seriously, "it cannot be convenient to
have one's lungs poisoned with the smoke of London gas.
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