uck, all uniting together to
disconcert their housekeeping, their table was going to be gradually
laid aside, when the Chevalier's genius, fertile in resources, undertook
to support his former credit by the following expedient.

They had never yet conferred about the state of their finances, although
the steward had acquainted each, separately, that he must either receive
money to continue the expenses, or give in his accounts. One day, when
the Chevalier came home sooner than usual, he found Matta fast asleep in
an easy chair, and, being unwilling to disturb his rest, he began musing
on his project. Matta awoke without his perceiving it; and having, for
a short time, observed the deep contemplation he seemed involved in,
and the profound silence between two persons who had never held their
tongues for a moment when together before, he broke it by a sudden fit
of laughter, which increased in proportion as the other stared at him.
"A merry way of waking, and ludicrous enough," said the Chevalier;
"what is the matter, and whom do you laugh at!" "Faith, Chevalier," said
Matta, "I am laughing at a dream I had just now, which is so natural and
diverting, that I must make you laugh at it also. I was dreaming that we
had dismissed our maitre-d'hotel, our cook, and our confectioner, having
resolved, for the remainder of the campaign, to live upon others as
others have lived upon us: this was my dream. Now tell me, Chevalier, on
what were you musing?" "Poor fellow!" said the Chevalier, shrugging up
his shoulders, "you are knocked down at once, and thrown into the utmost
consternation and despair at some silly stories which the maitre-d'hotel
has been telling you as well as me. What! after the figure we have made
in the face of the nobility and foreigners in the army, shall we give it
up, and like fools and beggars sneak off, upon the first failure of
our money! Have you no sentiments of honour? Where is the dignity of
France?" "And where is the money?" said Matta; "for my men say, the
devil may take them, if there be ten crowns in the house, and I believe
you have not much more, for it is above a week since I have seen you
pull out your purse, or count your money, an amusement you were very
fond of in prosperity." "I own all this," said the Chevalier, "but yet I
will force you to confess, that you are but a mean-spirited fellow upon
this occasion. What would have become of you if you had been reduced to
the situation I was in at