“Exactly the sum I want. Where are those fifty pistoles?”
“Here,” said Malicorne, slapping his pocket.
“Then speak, my friend; what do you want?”
Malicorne took up the pen, ink, and paper again, and presented them all to Manicamp. “Write!” said he.
“Dictate!”
“An order for a place in the household of Monsieur.”
“Oh!” said Manicamp, laying down the pen, “a place in the household of Monsieur for fifty pistoles?”
“You mistook me, my friend; you did not hear plainly.”
“What did you say, then?”
“I said five hundred.”