Incaseyouwillconsenttorelieveme，andjudgeforyourselfthemiseryinwhichInowam，IliveintherueduHoussay，atthecorneroftherueChantereine，onthefifthfloor。IfIcannotpaymyrentto-morrowIshallbeputout——andthen，wherecanIgo？
MayIcallmyself，Yoursister-in-law，ComtesseFloredeBrambourg。
“Whatapitofinfamy！“criedJoseph；“thereissomethingunderitall。“
“Letussendforthewomanwhobroughttheletter；wemaygettheprefaceofthestory，“saidBixiou。
Thewomanpresentlyappeared，looking，asBixiouobserved，likeperambulatingrags。Shewas，infact，amassofoldgowns，oneontopofanother，fringedwithmudonaccountoftheweather，thewholemountedontwothicklegswithheavyfeetwhichwereill-coveredbyraggedstockingsandshoesfromwhosecracksthewateroozeduponthefloor。AbovethemoundofragsroseaheadlikethosethatCharlethasgiventohisscavenger-women，caparisonedwithafilthybandannahandkerchiefslitinthefolds。