now, get off to my
florist; be quick about it.

_As_ Joseph _goes out,_ Andre _enters. He does not at first
perceive his father, but on turning toward the table
discovers him._

_Andre_--Ah! you are here, are you?

_Count_--Yes, I have been here during an hour; and moreover, a very
agreeable person has been doing the honors of your establishment on my
behalf.

_Andre_--It is a fine time to talk about agreeable persons! You are a
very agreeable person--

_Count_--What in the world is the matter with you?

_Andre_--I am perfectly furious.

_Count_--Against whom?

_Andre_--Against you.

_Count_--Why? What have I been doing?

_Andre_--You have drawn on me at sight this draft here.

_Count_--Oh yes, I know very well what that means. It comes from
London; it is to pay for the boat, you know.

_Andre_--Oh yes, it comes from London, and it is to pay for the boat!
That is no excuse for it. And what about the boat, if you please?

_Count_--But my dear fellow, they had no business to present it until
the 15th.

_Andre_--Well?

_Count_--Why, to-day _is_ the 15th!

_Andre_--You ought to know it.

_Count_--I thought that to-day was only the 14th! Have you paid it?

_Andre_--Of course.

_Count_--Ah! then I owe you six thousand francs. That's all there is
to the matter.

_Andre_--Yes, that's all! But you never said a word to me about it; I
had no money in the house: I had to send to our man of business. May I
beg of you in the future to be so good as to--

_Count_--Poor boy! poor boy! Really, between ourselves, you would have
done a great deal better (as it is a month since you have seen me, and
since you are really very fond of me) to embrace me in meeting me
again, rather than to say all these things to me that you have been
saying!

_Andre_ [_embracing his father heartily_]--Oh, of course they make no
difference, when it comes to _that_!

_Count_--Your second impulse is a very good one; but you ought to have
begun with it. All the same, I do not in the less ask pardon for the
inconvenience that I have caused you, my boy. [_Takes some bank-notes
from his pocket._] Here are your six thousand francs, and [_holding
out the remainder of the notes to Andre_] since you need money, help
yourself.

_Andre_--Where in the world does that money come from?

_Count_--Oh, it is some money that I have received.

_Andre_--There was none coming to you from anywhere!

_Count_--There is always somethin