francs, it is
true, but what was the loss compared with four glorious thousand-franc
notes in hand? 'Four thousand francs of live coin!--there are moments in
one's life when one would sign bills for eight thousand to get them,' as
the Count said to me.

"Two days later the Count must see the furniture himself, and took the
four thousand francs upon him. The sale had been arranged; thanks to
little Croizeau's diligence, he pushed matters on; he had 'come round'
the widow, as he expressed it. It was Maxime's intention to have all
the furniture removed at once to a lodging in a new house in the Rue
Tronchet, taken in the name of Mme. Ida Bonamy; he did not trouble
himself much about the nice old man that was about to lose his thousand
francs. But he had sent beforehand for several big furniture vans.

"Once again he was fascinated by the beautiful furniture which a
wholesale dealer would have valued at six thousand francs. By the
fireside sat the wretched owner, yellow with jaundice, his head tied up
in a couple of printed handkerchiefs, and a cotton night-cap on top
of them; he was huddled up in wrappings like a chandelier, exhausted,
unable to speak, and altogether so knocked to pieces that the Count was
obliged to transact his business with the man-servant. When he had paid
down the four thousand francs, and the servant had taken the money to
his master for a receipt, Maxime turned to tell the man to call up the
vans to the door; but even as he spoke, a voice like a rattle sounded in
his ears.

"'It is not worth while, Monsieur le Comte. You and I are quits; I have
six hundred and thirty francs fifteen centimes to give you!'

"To his utter consternation, he saw Cerizet, emerged from his wrappings
like a butterfly from the chrysalis, holding out the accursed bundle of
documents.

"'When I was down on my luck, I learned to act on the stage,' added
Cerizet. 'I am as good as Bouffe at old men.'

"'I have fallen among thieves!' shouted Maxime.

"'No, Monsieur le Comte, you are in Mlle. Hortense's house. She is a
friend of old Lord Dudley's; he keeps her hidden away here; but she has
the bad taste to like your humble servant.'

"'If ever I longed to kill a man,' so the Count told me afterwards, 'it
was at that moment; but what could one do? Hortense showed her pretty
face, one had to laugh. To keep my dignity, I flung her the six hundred
francs. "There's for the girl," said I.'"

"That is Maxime all over!" cried L