"Does Monsieur wish to settle his account?" asked Changeur.
"No, no, my lad."
"What am I to do, then, with this five-hundred franc note?"
"First of all take Monsieur's measurements."
Changeur looked at the Baron de B——, frightened out of his wits.
"Do you hear?" said Morrisel, "and when you have taken his measure you can go with it to the undertaker's."
"To the undertaker ...?"
"Yes, Changeur; and there you can order in my name—in the name of Colonel Morrisel, you quite understand?—a first-rate funeral equipage for M. le Baron de B——. You understand, it is to be of the very best!—I know it will come to more; but the five hundred francs will do on account;—you understand, Changeur? it is to be a thoroughly good funeral."
M. le Baron de B—— tried to take it as a joke.
"Monsieur," he said, "I should have thought you could have left my family to make these arrangements."