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Rh (pianissimo); and they must stay a long, long time. You must not come to me if you want a house only for —"

He (with a last and desperate effort, which happens to be partially successful) — "O madam, I want to stay for a number of years in the house, if I take it; but I cannot take it until I have seen it."

She — "You shall see it, monsieur, you shall see it (parenthetically). Now the third thing which I require from a tenant is absolute cleanliness, absolute, absolute! No spitting on the walls, no dirt upon the doors, no grease upon the planking, no cochonnerie in the yard. You understand me, monsieur? Yes! — you shall see the house: these are the keys."

He — "But what is the rent of —"

She — (frightening him into motionlessness by a sudden gypsy-like gesture) "Ah, monsieur, but I cannot trust you with these keys. No; my servant shall go with