No doubt
she has not such a good position as Madame Bourdieu, who has so handsome
a place in the Rue de Miromesnil, but she is less expensive, and so very
kind and obliging."
Then Celeste suddenly ceased speaking, for she noticed that Mathieu's
eyes were fixed upon her, and this, for reasons best known to herself,
made her feel uncomfortable. He on his side certainly placed no
confidence in this big dark girl with a head like that of a horse, who,
it seemed to him, knew far too much.
Marianne joined in the conversation. "But why," asked she, "why does not
this Madame Menoux, whom you speak about, keep her baby with her?"
Thereupon La Couteau turned a dark harsh glance upon this lady visitor,
who, whatever course she might take herself, had certainly no right to
prevent others from doing business.
"Oh! it's impossible," exclaimed Celeste, well pleased with the
diversion. "Madame Menoux's shop is no bigger than my pocket-
handkerchief, and at the back of it there is only one little room where
she and her husband take their meals and sleep. And that room, too,
overlooks a tiny courtyard where one can neither see nor breathe.
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