en we are down in our luck; but we never
say so.

Lafouraille
That is, we make money, like other people.

Joseph
But his grace the duke is going--

Lafouraille
Your duke cannot return home before two o'clock, and that gives us
time enough: do not therefore interlard with anxious thought the
professional dish which we have to serve--

Buteux
And serve hot.

(Vautrin wears a brown coat, blue trousers, and a black waistcoat. His
hair is short and he is got up as an imitation of Napoleon in undress.
As he enters he abruptly puts out the candle and draws the slide of
his dark lantern.)

Vautrin
What! You have lights here! You think yourselves still members of
respectable society. I can understand that this fool should ignore the
first elements of sane conduct--but you others! (To Buteux, as he
points out Joseph to him) Put wool in this fellow's ears, and talk
with him over there. (To Lafouraille) And what of the youngster?

Lafouraille
He is kept well out of sight.

Vautrin
In what place?

Lafouraille
In the other rookery of Giroflee's woman, near here, behind the
Invalides.

Vautrin
And see that he does not escape like that slippery eel of a
Saint-Charles, that madman, who came for the purpose of breaking up
our establishment--for I--but I never threaten.

Lafouraille
Upon the youngster's safety I will stake my head! Philosopher has put
buskins on his hands and frills on his feet, he cannot stir hand or
foot, and will be given up only to me. As for the other, who could
help it? Poor Giroflee cannot resist strong liquors, and Blondet knew
it.

Vautrin
What did Raoul say?

Lafouraille
He made a terrible uproar; and swore he was disgraced. Fortunately
Philosopher is insensible to metaphors.

Vautrin
Do you think the boy wishes for a fight to the death? A young man is
fearful; he has the courage to conceal his terror and the folly to
allow himself to be killed. I hope they prevent him from writing to
any one.

Lafouraille (aside)
We are in for it! (Aloud) I can conceal nothing from you, before he
was fastened up the prince sent little Nini with a letter to the
Christoval house.

Vautrin
To Inez?

Lafouraille
To Inez.

Vautrin
He wrote a lot of rubbish, I'll warrant.

Lafouraille
A pack of lies and absurdities.

Vautrin (to Joseph)
Hello there! You--the honest man.

Buteux (leading Joseph to Vautrin)
You had better explain things to the master, as he desires.

Joseph
It seems to