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ded and glacial； with white walls and glass doors with tiny panes which exasperated Desnoyers； who longed for the complicated carvings and rich furniture in vogue during his youth。 He himself directed the arrangement and furnishings of the various rooms which always seemed empty。
Chichi protested against her father's avarice when she saw him buying slowly and with much calculation and hesitation。 〃Avarice； no！〃 he retorted； 〃it is because I know the worth of things。〃
Nothing pleased him that he had not acquired at one…third of its value。 Beating down those who overcharged but proved the superiority of the buyer。 Paris offered him one delightful spot which he could not find anywhere else in the worldthe Hotel Drouot。 He would go there every afternoon that he did not find other important auctions advertised in the papers。 For many years； there was no famous failure in Parisian life； with its consequent liquidation； from which he did not carry something away。 The use and need of these prizes were matters of secondary interest； the great thing was to get them for ridiculous prices。 So the trophies from the auction…rooms now began to inundate the apartment which； at the beginning； he had been furnishing with such desperate slowness。
His daughter now complained that the home was getting overcrowded。 The furnishings and ornaments were handsome； but too many 。 。 。 far too many！ The white walls seemed to scowl at the magnificent sets of chairs and the overflowing glass cabinets。 Rich and velvety carpets over which had passed many generations； covered all the compartments。 Showy curtains； not finding a vacant frame in the salons； adorned the doors leading into the kitchen。 The wall mouldings gradually disappeared under an overlay of pictures； placed close together like the scales of a cuirass。 Who now could accuse Desnoyers of avarice？ 。 。 。 He was investing far more than a fashionable contractor would have dreamed of spending。
The underlying idea still was to acquire all this for a fourth of its pricean exciting bait which lured the economical man into continuous dissipation。 He could sleep well only when he had driven a good bargain during the day。 He bought at auction thousands of bottles of wine consigned by bankrupt firms； and he who scarcely ever drank； packed his wine cellars to overflowing； advising his family to use the champagne as freely as ordinary wine。 The failure of a furrier induced him to buy for fourteen thousand francs pelts worth ninety thousand。 In consequence； the entire Desnoyers family seemed suddenly to be suffering as frightfully from cold as though a polar iceberg had invaded the avenida Victor Hugo。 The father kept only one fur coat for himself but ordered three for his son。 Chichi and Dona Luisa appeared arrayed in all kinds of silky and luxurious skinsone day chinchilla； other days blue fox； marten or seal。
The enraptured buyer would permit no one but himself to adorn the walls with his new acquisitions； using the hammer from the top of a step…ladder in order to save the expense of a professional picture hanger。 He wished to set his children the example of economy。 In his idle hours； he would change the position of the heaviest pieces of furniture； trying every kind of combination。 This employment reminded him of those happy days when he handled great sacks of wheat and bundles of hides on the ranch。 Whenever his son noticed that he was looking thoughtfully at a monumental sideboard or heavy piece； he prudently betook himself to other haunts。
Desnoyers stood a little in awe of the two house…men； very solemn； correct creatures always in dress suit； who could not hide their astonishment at seeing a man with an income of more than a million francs engaged in such work。 Finally it was the two coppery maids who aided their Patron； the three working contentedly together like companions in exile。
Four automobiles completed the luxuriousness of the family。 The children would have been more content with onesmall and dashing； in the very latest style。 But Desnoyers was not the man to let a bargain slip past him； so one after the other； he had picked up the four； tempted by the price。 They were as enormous and majestic as coaches of state。 Their entrance into a street made the passers…by turn and stare。 The chauffeur needed two assistants to help him keep this flock of mastodons in order； but the proud owner thought only of the skill with which he had gotten the best of the salesmen； anxious to get such monuments out of their sight。
To his children he was always recommending simplicity and economy。 〃We are not as rich as you suppose。 We own a good deal of property； but it produces a scanty income。〃
And then； after refusing a domestic expenditure of two hundred francs； he would put five thousand into an unnecessary purchase just because it would mean a great loss to the seller。 Julio and his sister kept protesting to their mother； Dona LuisaChichi even going so far as to announce that she would never marry a man like her father。
〃Hush； hush！〃 exclaimed the scandalized Creole。 〃He has his little peculiarities； but he is very good。 Never has he given me any cause for complaint。 I only hope that you may be lucky enough to find his equal。〃
Her husband's quarrelsomeness； his irritable character and his masterful will all sank into insignificance when she thought of his unvarying fidelity。 In so many years of married life 。 。 。 nothing！ His faithfulness had been unexceptional even in the country where many； surrounded by beasts； and intent on increasing their flocks； had seemed to become contaminated by the general animalism。 She remembered her father only too well！ 。 。 。 Even her sister was obliged to live in apparent calmness with the vainglorious Karl； quite capable of disloyalty not because of any special lust； but just to imitate the doings of his superiors。
Desnoyers and his wife were plodding through life in a routine affection； reminding Dona Luisa； in her limited imagination； of the yokes of oxen on the ranch who refused to budge whenever another animal was substituted for the regular companion。 Her husband certainly was quick tempered； holding her responsible for all the whims with which he exasperated his children； yet he could never bear to have her out of his sight。 The afternoons at the hotel Drouot would be most insipid for him unless she was at his side； the confidante of his plans and wrathful outbursts。
〃To…day there is to be a sale of jewels； shall we go？〃
He would make this proposition in such a gentle and coaxing voice the voice that Dona Luisa remembered in their first talks around the old home。 And so they would go together； but by different routes； she in one of the monumental vehicles because； accustomed to the leisurely carriage rides of the ranch； she no longer cared to walk； and Desnoyersalthough owner of the four automobiles； heartily abominating them because he was conservative and uneasy with the complications of new machineryon foot under the pretext that； through lack of work； his body needed the exercise。 When they met in the crowded salesrooms； they proceeded to examine the jewels together； fixing beforehand； th