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IV Box Five
Hetappedhisforeheadwithadistressfulforefinger,toconveyhisopinionthatthewidowJulesGirywasmostcertainlymad,apieceofpantomimewhichconfirmedM.Richardinhisdeterminationtogetridofaninspectorwhokeptalunaticinhisservice.Meanwhile,theworthyladywentonaboutherghost,nowpaintinghisgenerosity:
"Attheendoftheperformance,healwaysgivesmetwofrancs,sometimesfive,sometimeseventen,whenhehasbeenmanydayswithoutcoming.Only,sincepeoplehavebeguntoannoyhimagain,hegivesmenothingatall.
"Excuseme,mygoodwoman,"saidMoncharmin,whileMme.Girytossedthefeathersinherdingyhatatthispersistentfamiliarity,"excuseme,howdoestheghostmanagetogiveyouyourtwofrancs?"
"Why,heleavesthemonthelittleshelfinthebox,ofcourse.Ifindthemwiththeprogram,whichIalwaysgivehim.Someevenings,Ifindflowersinthebox,arosethatmusthavedroppedfromhislady’sbodice...forhebringsaladywithhimsometimes;oneday,theyleftafanbehindthem."
"Oh,theghostleftafan,didhe?Andwhatdidyoudowithit?"
"Well,Ibroughtitbacktotheboxnextnight."
Heretheinspector’svoicewasraised.
"You’vebrokentherules;Ishallhavetofineyou,Mme.Giry."
"Holdyourtongue,youfool!"mutteredM.FirminRichard.
"Youbroughtbackthefan.Andthen?"
"Well,then,theytookitawaywiththem,sir;itwasnotthereattheendoftheperformance;andinitsplacetheyleftmeaboxofEnglishsweets,whichI’mveryfondof.That’soneoftheghost’sprettythoughts."
"Thatwilldo,Mme.Giry.Youcango."
WhenMme
