FromtheLouisHemonnovel"M.RipoisandHisNemesis"aboutAndreRipois,aphilandererinpursuitofloveandrichesfromParistoLondon.Andreisbreakingupwithhiswife,Catherine,overhisattentionstoherbestfriendPatricia.WhileCatherineisoutarrangingthedivorce,Andre,justtokeepinpractice,hitsonthegirlupstairs,DianaandthenturnshisattentionbacktoPatricia,whohetricksintohavingdinnerathisflatonthepretextthatCatherinewillbethere.Whenhecannotmakeanyprogresswithherviahisusualtactics,hetriestoarouseherpitybetellingherofhispast.Inhisearly,impoverisheddaysinLondon,hemadelovetohisbossAnnebutherdreadfulcookingdrovehimaway.NextcameNorahwhohepickeduponabusandtooktohisflatandtoldherabouthismake-believeinheritance,butsheinsistedonmarriagefirst,whichwasnotinhisplans.Marcelle,aFrenchwomanlivinginSoho,puthimonhisfeetwithmoney,andherepaidherbystealingfiftypoundsandrunningoff.HemetthewealthyCatherineathisflatwhereshecametobetutoredinFrenchlessons,andendedupmarryinghim.But,evenathiswedding,hehadeyesonlyforPatriciaand,hetellshersheishisonetruelove.
