For  my  part,  I  am  cured  of  your  'real  ladies.'  And,  after  all,
at  our  time  of  life  what  do  we  want  of  these  swindling  hussies,
who,  to  be  honest,  cannot  help  playing  us  false  ?  You  have
white  hair  and  false  teeth ;  I  am  of  the  shape  of  Silenus.  I
shall  go  in  for  saving.  Money  never  deceives  one.  Though
the  Treasury  is  indeed  open  to  all  the  world  twice  a  year,  it
pays  you  interest,  and  this  woman  swallows  it.  With  you,
my  worthy  friend,  as  Gubetta,  as  my  partner  in  the  con-
cern, I  might  have  resigned  myself  to  a  shady  bargain — ^no,
a  philosophical  calm.  But  with  a  Brazilian  who  has  possibly
smuggled  in  some  doubtful  colonial  produce ^"

"Woman  is  an  inexplicable  creature !"  said  Hulot.
