which were enough to have felled a rhinoceros. But not a word of
that now; it was a joke on your part, I am sure,--merely done in jest.
Let us not say another word about it, for serious business brings us now
together. I saw the Chourineur yesterday, about eleven o'clock, at the
_tapis-franc_, and appointed to meet him here to-day, in case he chose
to join us,--to be our fellow labourer; but it seems that he most
decidedly refuses."

"You, then, accept the proposal?"

"Your name, sir, if you be so good?"

"Rodolph."

"M. Rodolph, we will go into the Panier-Fleuri,--neither myself nor
madame has breakfasted,--and we will talk over our little matters whilst
we are taking a crust."

"Most willingly."

"We can talk as we go on. You and the Chourineur certainly do owe some
satisfaction to my wife and myself,--you have caused us to lose more
than two thousand francs. Chouette had a meeting near St. Ouen with the
tall gentleman in mourning, who came to ask for you at the
_tapis-franc_. He offered us two thousand francs to do something to you.
The Chourineur has told me all about this. But, Finette," said the
fellow, "go and select a room at the Panier-Fleuri, and order
breakfast,--some cutlets, a piece of veal, a salad, and a couple of
bottles of vin de beaune, the best quality,--and we will join you
there."

The Chouette, who had not taken her eye off Rodolph for a moment, went
off after exchanging looks with the Schoolmaster, who then said:

"I say, M. Rodolph, that the Chourineur has edified me on the subject of
the two thousand francs."

"What do you mean by edified you?"

"You are right,--the language is a little too refined for you. I would
say that the Chourineur nearly told me all that the tall gentleman in
mourning, with his two thousand francs, required."

"Good."

"Not so good, young man; for the Chourineur, having yesterday morning
met the Chouette, near St. Ouen, did not leave her for one moment, when
the tall gentleman in mourning came up, so that he could not approach
and converse with her. You, then, ought to put us in the way of
regaining our two thousand francs."

"Nothing easier; but let us 'hark back.' I had proposed a glorious job
to the Chourineur, which he at first accepted, but afterwards refused to
go on with."

"He always had very peculiar ideas."

"But whilst he refused he observed to me--"

"He made you observe--"

"Oh, _diable_! You are very grand with your grammar."

"It