"That will be his resource for his old age," said Marcel, adding up the bill. "Well, this is dear, rather! Fifteen francs! We used both to dine for a franc and a half."
"Yes," replied Rodolphe, "but then we dined so badly that we were obliged to sup at night. So, on the whole, it is an economy."
"You always have the best of the argument," muttered the convinced artist. "Shall we work tonight?"
"No, indeed! I shall go to see my uncle. He is a good fellow, and will give me good advice when I tell him my new position. And you, Marcel?"
"I shall go to Medicis to ask him if he has any restorations of pictures to give me. By the way, give me five francs."
"For what?"
"To cross the Pont des Arts."
"Two sous to cross a bridge when you can go over another for nothing! That is a useless expense; and, though an inconsiderable one, is a violation of our rule."
"I am wrong, to be sure," said Marcel. "I will take a cab and go by the Pont Neuf."
So the two friends quitted each other in opposite directions, but somehow the different roads brought them to the same place, and they didn't go home till morning.