on finishing the house, according to the contract between
Thuillier and Grindot. I did not tell you that yesterday," he added,
turning to Godeschal.

"Do you hear that?" said Desroches to Sauvaignou. "That's a case I shall
not touch without proper guarantees."

"But, messieurs," said Sauvaignou, "I can't negotiate this matter until
I have seen the worthy man who paid me five hundred francs on account
for having signed him that bit of a proxy."

"Are you from Marseilles?" said la Peyrade, in patois.

"Oh! if he tackles him with patois the fellow is beaten," said Godeschal
to Desroches in a low tone.

"Yes, monsieur," replied the Marseillais.

"Well, you poor devil," continued Theodose, "don't you see that they
want to ruin you? Shall I tell you what you ought to do? Pocket these
three thousand francs, and when your worthy man comes after you, take
your rule and hit him a rap over the knuckles; tell him he's a rascal
who wants you to do his dirty work, and instead of that you revoke your
proxy and will pay him his five hundred francs in the week with three
Thursdays. Then be off with you to Marseilles with these three thousand
francs and your savings in your pocket. If anything happens to you
there, let me know through these gentlemen, and I'll get you out of the
scrape; for, don't you see? I'm not only a Provencal, but I'm also one
of the leading lawyers in Paris, and the friend of the poor."

When the workman found a compatriot sanctioning in a tone of authority
the reasons by which he could betray Cerizet, he capitulated, asking,
however, for three thousand five hundred francs. That demand having been
granted he remarked:--

"It is none too much for a rap over the knuckles; he might put me in
prison for assault."

"Well, you needn't strike unless he insults you," replied la Peyrade,
"and that's self-defence."

When Desroches had assured him that la Peyrade was really a barrister in
good standing, Sauvaignou signed the relinquishment, which contained a
receipt for the amount, principal and interest, of his claim, made
in duplicate between himself and Thuillier, and witnessed by the two
attorneys; so that the paper was a final settlement of the whole matter.

"We'll leave the remaining fifteen hundred between you," whispered la
Peyrade to Desroches and Godeschal, "on condition that you give me the
relinquishment, which I will have Thuillier accept and sign before his
notary, Cardot. Poor man! he never closed