rs the office and
brings down cash-box to table R. He feels in all his pockets: BERTRAND
from behind him making signs to MACAIRE, which the latter does not
see._)
DUMONT. That's strange. I can't find the key. It's a patent key.
BERTRAND (_behind DUMONT, making signs to MACAIRE_). The key, he can't
find the key.
MACAIRE. O, yes, I remember. I heard it drop. (_Drops key._) And here it
is before my eyes.
DUMONT. That? That's yours. I saw it drop.
MACAIRE. I give you my word of honour I heard it fall five minutes back.
DUMONT. But I saw it.
MACAIRE. Impossible. It must be yours.
DUMONT. It is like mine, indeed. How came it in your pocket?
MACAIRE. Bitten! (_Aside._)
BERTRAND. Sold again! (_Aside_) ... You forget, Baron, it's the key of
my valise; I gave it you to keep in consequence of the hole in my
pocket.
MACAIRE. True, true; and that explains.
DUMONT. O, that explains. Now, all we have to do is to find mine. It's a
patent key. You heard it drop.
MACAIRE. Distinctly.
BERTRAND. So I did: distinctly.
DUMONT. Here, Aline, Babette, Goriot, Curate, Charles, everybody, come
here and look for my key!
SCENE VI
_To these, with candles, all the former characters, except FIDDLERS,
PEASANTS, and NOTARY. They hunt for the key_
DUMONT. It's bound to be here. We all heard it drop.
MARQUIS (_with BERTRAND'S bundle_). Is this it?
ALL (_with fury_). No.
BERTRAND. Hands off, that's my luggage. (_Hunt resumed._)
DUMONT. I heard it drop, as plain as ever I heard anything.
MARQUIS. By the way (_all start up_), what are we looking for?
ALL (_with fury_). O!!
DUMONT. Will you have the kindness to find my key? (_Hunt resumed._)
CURATE. What description of a key----
DUMONT. A patent, patent, patent, patent key!
MACAIRE. I have it. Here it is!
ALL (_with relief_). Ah!!
DUMONT. That? What do you mean? That's yours.
MACAIRE. Pardon me.
DUMONT. It is.
MACAIRE. It isn't.
DUMONT. I tell you it is: look at that twisted handle.
MACAIRE. It can't be mine, and so it must be yours.
DUMONT. It is NOT. Feel in your pockets. (_To the others._) Will you
have the kindness to find my patent key?
ALL. O!! (_Hunt resumed._)
MACAIRE. Ah, well, you're right. (_He slips key into DUMONT'S pocket._)
An idea: suppose you felt in your pocket?
ALL (_rising_). Yes! Suppose you did!
DUMONT. I will not feel in my pockets. How could it be there? It's a
patent key. This is mo
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