“We haf receifed nodings,” said Schmucke; “und gif I komm to you, it ees because I am in der shtreet, und haf not ein benny. How did you send us der bonus?”
“By your portress.”
“By Montame Zipod!” exclaimed Schmucke. “She killed Bons, she robbed him, she sold him—she tried to purn his vill—she is a pad creature, a monster!”
“But, my good man, how come you to be out in the street without a roof over your head or a penny in your pocket, when you are the sole heir? That does not necessarily follow, as the saying is.”
“They haf put me out at der door. I am a voreigner, I know nodings of die laws.”
“Poor man!” thought Gaudissart, foreseeing the probable end of the unequal contest.—“Listen,” he began, “do you know what you ought to do in this business?”
“I haf ein mann of pizness!”
“Very good, come to terms at once with the next-of-kin; make them pay you a lump sum of money down and an annuity, and you can live in peace—”
“I ask noding more.”
“Very well. Let me arrange it for you,” said Gaudissart. Fraisier had told him the whole story only yesterday, and he thought that he saw his way to making interest out of the case with the young Vicomtesse Popinot and her mother. He would finish a dirty piece of work, and some day he would be a privy councillor, at least; or so he told himself.