Breant turned and gazed at the hunchback with some surprise. "Who are you?" he asked.
The hunchback laughed as he answered: "Don’t you know me? Why, man, I am Æsop the Second. My illustrious ancestor laughed at all the world, and so do I. He loved the Greek girl Rhodopis, who built herself a pyramid. I am wiser than he, for I love only myself."
Breant shrugged his shoulders and made to turn upon his heel. "I have no time for fooling."
Æsop detained him. "Don’t leave me; I am good company."
Breant did not seem to be tempted by the offer. "That may be, but I must attend on his majesty."
Æsop still restrained him. "You can do me a favor."
Breant eyed the impertinent hunchback with disfavor. "Why should I do you a favor, Æsop the Second?"
The hunchback explained, gayly: "In the first place, because I am the guest of his Majesty the King. In the second place, because I am the confidential devil of his Highness the Prince de Gonzague. But my third reason is perhaps better."
As he spoke he took a well-filled purse from his pocket and tossed it lightly from one hand to the other, looking at Breant with a sneering smile. Breant would have been no true servant of the time if he had not liked money for the sake of the pleasure that money could give; Breant would have been no true servant of the time if he had not been always in want of money. He eyed the purse approvingly, and his manner was more amiable.
"What do you want?" he asked.