“I would not give three.”
“This arm-chair has five springs, which come into play all at once as soon as anyone sits down in it. Two springs catch the two arms and hold them tightly, two others separate the legs, and the fifth lifts up the seat.”
After this description Goudar sat down quite naturally in the chair and the springs came into play and forced him into the position of a woman in labour.
“Get the fair Charpillon to sit in this chair,” said he, “and your business is done.”
I could not help laughing at the contrivance, which struck me as at once ingenious and diabolical, but I could not make up my mind to avail myself of it.
“I won’t buy it,” said I, “but I shall be obliged if you will leave it here till to-morrow.”
“I can’t leave it here an hour unless you will buy it; the owner is waiting close by to hear your answer.”
“Then take it away and come back to dinner.”
He shewed me how I was to release him from his ridiculous position, and then after covering it up again he called the porter and went away.
There could be no doubt as to the action of the machinery, and it was no feeling of avarice which hindered me from buying the chair. As I have said, it seemed rather a diabolical idea, and besides it might easily have sent me to the gallows. Furthermore, I should never have had the strength of mind to enjoy the Charpillon forcibly, especially by means of the wonderful chair, the mechanism of which would have frightened her out of her wits.