"You know," he said, "that I have no advice to give, but if you choose, you can make five louis."
"A hundred francs! You are jesting!"
"And only by singing two or three songs."
"But that would be better pay than the opera singers receive!"
"That may be!"
"But where am I to sing?"
"Here—on the next floor."
"Hallo! ambassador, are you never coming?" shouted Montferrand from the top of the stairs.
Francine started.