"My friend here would be willing to meet you in the matter of discount——" Etienne began.
"I would not take the bills on any consideration," returned the little broker. The words slid down upon Lousteau's suggestion like the blade of the guillotine on a man's neck.
The two friends withdrew; but as Chaboisseau went prudently out with them across the ante-chamber, Lucien noticed a pile of second-hand books. Chaboisseau had been in the trade, and this was a recent purchase. Shining conspicuous among them, he noticed a copy of a work by the architect Ducereau, which gives exceedingly accurate plans of various royal palaces and chateaux in France.
"Could you let me have that book?" he asked.
"Yes," said Chaboisseau, transformed into a bookseller.
"How much?"
"Fifty francs."
"It is dear, but I want it. And I can only pay you with one of the bills which you refuse to take."
"You have a bill there for five hundred francs at six months; I will take that one of you," said Chaboisseau.
Apparently at the last statement of accounts, there had been a balance of five hundred francs in favor of Fendant and Cavalier.