has lost
his money, "but you left some men on the field--your victory cost you
dear."

"Yes," said Corentin, taking up the jest, "you lost your queen, and I
lost my two castles."

"Oh! Contenson was a mere pawn," said Jacques Collin scornfully; "you
may easily replace him. You really are--allow me to praise you to your
face--you are, on my word of honor, a magnificent man."

"No, no, I bow to your superiority," replied Corentin, assuming the
air of a professional joker, as if he said, "If you mean humbug, by
all means humbug! I have everything at my command, while you are
single-handed, so to speak."

"Oh! Oh!" said Jacques Collin.

"And you were very near winning the day!" said Corentin, noticing the
exclamation. "You are quite the most extraordinary man I ever met in my
life, and I have seen many very extraordinary men, for those I have to
work with me are all remarkable for daring and bold scheming.

"I was, for my sins, very intimate with the late Duc d'Otranto; I have
worked for Louis XVIII. when he was on the throne; and, when he was
exiled, for the Emperor and for the Directory. You have the tenacity of
Louvel, the best political instrument I ever met with; but you are as
supple as the prince of diplomates. And what auxiliaries you have! I
would give many a head to the guillotine if I could have in my service
the cook who lived with poor little Esther.--And where do you find such
beautiful creatures as the woman who took the Jewess' place for Monsieur
de Nucingen? I don't know where to get them when I want them."

"Monsieur, monsieur, you overpower me," said Jacques Collin. "Such
praise from you will turn my head----"

"It is deserved. Why, you took in Peyrade; he believed you to be a
police officer--he!--I tell you what, if you had not that fool of a boy
to take care of, you would have thrashed us."

"Oh! monsieur, but you are forgetting Contenson disguised as a mulatto,
and Peyrade as an Englishman. Actors have the stage to help them, but
to be so perfect by daylight, and at all hours, no one but you and your
men----"

"Come, now," said Corentin, "we are fully convinced of our worth and
merits. And here we stand each of us quite alone; I have lost my old
friend, you your young companion. I, for the moment, am in the stronger
position, why should we not do like the men in _l'Auberge des Adrets_?
I offer you my hand, and say, 'Let us embrace, and let bygones be
bygones.' Here, in the presence of Mon