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