"On account of a lawsuit lost."
"'Pon my word, this deserves consideration. Four thousand livres!"
"Four thousand livres."
"That is just the sum you would pay out in case Messieurs les Princes would consent that your place should be filled by a mercenary."
"Nonsense! I could procure a substitute for a hundred crowns."
"A substitute of your commanding appearance, a substitute who rides muleback with his toes turned out like you, a substitute who knows eighteen thousand seven hundred and seventy-two laws! Go to, monsieur! for an ordinary man a hundred crowns would certainly be enough; but if we are to be content with ordinary men, it's not worth while to enter into competition with the king. We need men of your merit, of your rank, of your stature. What the devil! don't cry yourself down; it seems to me that you are worth fully four thousand livres!"
"I see what you are coming at," cried the tradesman; "this is downright robbery with force and arms."
"Monsieur, you insult us," said Cauvignac, "and we would flay you alive by way of reparation for the insult, if we were less anxious to maintain the reputation of the adherents of the princes. No, monsieur; give me your four thousand livres, but do not look upon it as extortion, I beg; it is a necessity."
"Who will pay my attorney?"
"We will."