It's getting stupid, when all's said, for her to be
risking her life like that! She'll be charming if she gets over it, with
holes in her face! It'll suit us to a tee!"
The idea that Rose might lose her beauty was exasperating him. He was
giving up Nana in the most downright fashion, and he could not in the
least understand these stupid feminine devotions. But Fauchery was
crossing the boulevard, and he, too, came up anxiously and asked for
news. The two men egged each other on. They addressed one another
familiarly in these days.
"Always the same business, my sonny," declared Mignon. "You ought to go
upstairs; you would force her to follow you."
"Come now, you're kind, you are!" said the journalist. "Why don't you go
upstairs yourself?"
Then as Lucy began asking for Nana's number, they besought her to make
Rose come down; otherwise they would end by getting angry.
Nevertheless, Lucy and Caroline did not go up at once. They had caught
sight of Fontan strolling about with his hands in his pockets and
greatly amused by the quaint expressions of the mob. When he became
aware that Nana was lying ill upstairs he affected sentiment and
remarked:
"The poor girl! I'll go and shake her by the hand.
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