“What? To call yourself Malicorne the first?”
“No; to make you superintendent of my finances; but that is not the question now.”
“Unfortunately.”
“The present affair is to procure for me a second place of maid of honor.”
“My friend, if you were to promise me the price of heaven, I would decline to disturb myself at this moment.” Malicorne chinked the money in his pocket.
“There are twenty pistoles here,” said Malicorne.
“And what would you do with twenty pistoles, mon Dieu!”
“Well!” said Malicorne, a little angrily, “suppose I were to add them to the five hundred you already owe me?”
“You are right,” replied Manicamp, stretching out his hand again, “and from that point of view I can accept them. Give them to me.”
“An instant, what the devil! it is not only holding out your hand that will do; if I give you the twenty pistoles, shall I have my brevet?”