ille
That it did; for it was rare in those days! The duke promised me
twenty thousand francs if I delivered the viscount from the hands of
my comrades, and I succeeded in doing so.

Vautrin
Twenty thousand francs for a viscount!

Lafouraille
And he was all the more worth it, because he was the last. I found
that out too late. The steward had disposed of all the other Langeacs,
even to the poor grandmother whom he had sent to the Carmelites.

Vautrin
That was good!

Lafouraille
But then something else happened. That Blondet heard of my devotion,
he traced me out and found me in the neighborhood of Mortagne, where
my master was at the house of one of my uncles waiting for a chance to
reach the sea. The noodle offered me as much money as he had already
given me. I saw before me an honest life for the rest of my days; and
I was weak. My friend Blondet caused the viscount to be shot as a spy;
and my uncle and myself were imprisoned as his accomplices. We were
not released until I had disgorged all my gold.

Vautrin
That is the way a knowledge of the human heart is acquired. You were
dealing with a stronger man than yourself.

Lafouraille
That remains to be seen; for I am still alive.

Vautrin
Enough of that! There is nothing of use to me in your tale.

Lafouraille
Can I go now?

Vautrin
Come, come. You seem to experience a keen longing to be where I am
not. But you went into society yesterday; did you do anything?

Lafouraille
The servants said such funny things about their masters, that I could
not leave the antechamber.

Vautrin
Yet I saw you nibbling at the sideboard; what did you take?

Lafouraille
Nothing--but stay--I took a wineglass of Madeira.

Vautrin
What did you do with the dozen of gold spoons that went with the glass
of Madeira?

Lafouraille
Gold spoons! I've searched diligently, but find nothing of that kind
in my memory.

Vautrin
Possibly; but you will find them in your mattress. And was Philosopher
also absent-minded?

Lafouraille
Poor Philosopher! Since morning he has been a laughing-stock below
stairs. He induced a coachman who was very young to strip off his gold
lace for him. It was all false on the underside. In these days masters
are thieves. You cannot be sure of anything, more's the pity.

Vautrin (whistles)
This is no joking matter. You will make me lose the house: this must
be put a stop to--Here, father Buteux, ahoy! Philosopher! Come here.
Fil-de-Soie! My dear