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〃But where the devil；〃 said the usurer； 〃could he have got the money？〃
〃Probably；〃 replied Dutocq； sarcastically； 〃where he got that with
which he paid you in full for those notes you sold at a sacrifice。〃
〃My dear Dutocq；〃 said Cerizet； 〃I'll explain to you the circumstances
under which that insolent fellow freed himself； and you'll see if he
didn't rob me of fifteen thousand francs。〃
〃Possibly； but you； my worthy clerk； were trying to get ten thousand
away from me。〃
〃No； no； I was positively ordered to buy up your claim； and you ought
to remember that my offer had risen to twenty thousand when Theodose
came in。〃
〃Well；〃 said Dutocq； 〃when we leave here we'll go to your house； where
you will give me those notes； for； you'll understand that to…morrow
morning； at the earliest decent hour； I shall go to la Peyrade's
office； I don't mean to let his paying humor cool。〃
〃And right you are； for I can tell you now that before long there'll
be a fine upset in his life。〃
〃Then the thing is really seriousthis tale of a crazy woman you want
him to marry？ I must say that in his place； with these money…matters
evidently on the rise； I should have backed out of your proposals just
as he did。 Ninas and Ophelias are all very well on the stage； but in a
home〃
〃In a home； when they bring a 'dot；' we can be their guardian；〃
replied Cerizet； sententiously。 〃In point of fact； we get a fortune
and not a wife。〃
〃Well；〃 said Dutocq； 〃that's one way to look at it。〃
〃If you are willing；〃 said Cerizet； 〃let us go and take our coffee
somewhere else。 This dinner has turned out so foolishly that I want to
get out of this room； where there's no air。〃 He rang for the waiter。
〃Garcon！〃 he said； 〃the bill。〃
〃Monsieur； it is paid。〃
〃Paid！ by whom？〃
〃By the gentleman who just went out。〃
〃But this is outrageous；〃 cried Cerizet。 〃I ordered the dinner； and
you allow some one else to pay for it！〃
〃It wasn't I； monsieur；〃 said the waiter； 〃the gentleman went and paid
the 'dame du comptoir'； she must have thought it was arranged between
you。 Besides； it is not so uncommon for gentlemen to have friendly
disputes about paying。〃
〃That's enough；〃 said Cerizet； dismissing the waiter。
〃Won't these gentlemen take their coffee？it is paid for；〃 said the
man before he left the room。
〃A good reason for not taking it；〃 replied Cerizet； angrily。 〃It is
really inconceivable that in a house of this kind such an egregious
blunder should be committed。 What do you think of such insolence？〃 he
added； when the waiter had left the room。
〃Bah！〃 exclaimed Dutocq； taking his hat； 〃it is a schoolboy
proceeding； he wanted to show he had money； it is easy to see he never
had any before。〃
〃No； no！ that's not it；〃 said Cerizet； 〃he meant to mark the rupture。
'I will not owe you even a dinner；' is what he says to me。〃
〃But； after all；〃 said Dutocq； 〃this banquet was given to celebrate
your enthronement as principal tenant of the grand house。 Well； he has
failed to get you the lease； and I can understand that his conscience
was uneasy at letting you pay for a dinner which； like those notes of
mine； were an 'obligation without cause。'〃
Cerizet made no reply to this malicious observation。 They had reached
the counter where reigned the dame who had permitted the improper
payment； and； for the sake of his dignity； the usurer thought it
proper to make a fuss。 After which the two men departed； and the
copying…clerk took his employer to a low coffee…house in the Passage
du Saumon。 There Cerizet recovered his good…humor； he was like a fish
out of water suddenly returned to his native element； for he had
reached that state of degradation when he felt ill at ease in places
frequented by good society； and it was with a sort of sensuous
pleasure that he felt himself back in the vulgar place where they were
noisily playing pool for the benefit of a 〃former conqueror of the
Bastille。〃
In this establishment Cerizet enjoyed the fame of being a skilful
billiard…player； and he was now entreated to take part in a game
already begun。 In technical language； he 〃bought his ball〃； that is；
one of the players sold him his turn and his chances。 Dutocq profited
by this arrangement to slip away； on pretence of inquiring for a sick
friend。
Presently； in his shirt…sleeves； with a pipe between his lips； Cerizet
made one of those masterly strokes which bring down the house with
frantic applause。 As he waited a moment； looking about him
triumphantly； his eye lighted on a terrible kill…joy。 Standing among
the spectators with his chin on his cane； du Portail was steadily
watching him。
A tinge of red showed itself in Cerizet's cheeks。 He hesitated to bow
or to recognize the old gentleman； a most unlikely person to meet in
such a place。 Not knowing how to take the unpleasant encounter； he
went on playing； but his hand betrayed his uneasiness； and presently
an unlucky stroke threw him out of the game。 While he was putting on
his coat in a tolerably ill…humor； du Portail passed； almost brushing
him； on his way to the door。
〃Rue Montmartre； at the farther end of the Passage；〃 said the old man；
in a low tone。
When they met； Cerizet had the bad taste to try to explain the
disreputable position in which he had just been detected。
〃But；〃 said du Portail； 〃in order to see you there； I had to be there
myself。〃
〃True；〃 returned Cerizet。 〃I was rather surprised to see a quiet
inhabitant of the Saint…Sulpice quarter in such a place。〃
〃It merely proves to you；〃 said the little old man； in a tone which
cut short all explanation； and all curiosity； 〃that I am in the habit
of going pretty nearly everywhere； and that my star leads me into the
path of those persons whom I wish to meet。 I was thinking of you at
the very moment you came in。 Well； what have you done？〃
〃Nothing good；〃 replied Cerizet。 〃After playing me a devilish trick
which deprived me of a magnificent bit of business； our man rejected
your overture with scorn。 There is no hope whatever in that claim of
Dutocq's； for la Peyrade is chock…full of money； he wanted to pay the
notes just now； and to…morrow morning he will certainly do so。〃
〃Does he regard his marriage to this Demoiselle Colleville as a
settled thing？〃
〃He not only considers it settled； but he is trying now to make people
believe it is a love…match。 He rattled off a perfect tirade to
convince me that he is really in love。〃
〃Very well；〃 said du Portail； wishing； perhaps； to show that he could；
on occasion； use the slang of a low billiard…room； 〃'stop the charge'〃
（meaning： Do nothing more）； 〃I will undertake to bring monsieur to
reason。 But come and see me to…morrow； and tell me all about the
family he intends to enter。 You have failed in this affair； but don't
mind that； I shall have others for you。〃
So saying； he signed to the driver of an empty citadine； which was
passing； got into it； and； with a nod to Cerizet； told the man to
drive to the rue Honore…Chevalier。
As Cerizet walked down the rue Montmartre to regain the Estrapade
quarter； he puzzled his brains to divine who that little old man with
the curt speech； the imperious manner； an