"'Your excellency is not aware how hard it is to get chickens in this neighborhood.'"
"Well, and how did the matter end?" asked Carmen.
"I sent the chicken back, and asked for a piece of bread. It was brought to me by Battista, another bandit, on a silver salver.
"'How dear is the bread?' I asked, trembling.
"'One hundred thousand francs.'
"'What! A piece of bread one hundred thousand francs?' I cried in amazement.
"'One hundred thousand francs.'
"'But you asked no more for the chicken?'
"'Prices here are fixed,' replied Peppino; 'pay and you can eat.'