"And in prison how unhappy we must be."
"On the contrary—"
"How do you mean on the contrary?"
"Why, you know the fat cripple who lodges at Father Micou's, the man who buys all Nicholas's things, and keeps a lodging-house in the Passage de la Brasserie?"
"A fat cripple?"
"Why, yes, who came here the end of last autumn from Father Micou, with a man who had monkeys and two women."
"Ah, yes, a stout, lame man, who spent such a deal of money."
"I believe you; he paid for everybody. Don't you recollect the rows on the water when I pulled them, and the man with the monkeys brought his organ, that they might have music in the boat?"
"Yes; and in the evening the beautiful fireworks they let off, François?"
"And the fat cripple was not stingy, either. He gave me ten sous for myself. He drank nothing but our best wine, and they had chickens at every meal. He spent full eighty francs."