"Mon Dieu!" said Sanquereau. "So you are broke? Well, in my chequered career I have breakfasted on much worse fare than yours."
At this reply, Juliette blushed with all the bashfulness of a bride, and Julien endeavoured to assume the air of a man of the world.
"Tell me," he said; "we are in difficulties about the rent—have you by chance a louis that you could lend me?"
Sanquereau turned out his pockets, like the good fellow he was, but he could produce no more than a sou. "What a bother!" he cried. "I would lend you a louis if I had it as readily as a cigarette-paper, but you see how I am situated. On my honour, it rends my heart to have to refuse."
"You are a gallant comrade," said Julien, much touched. "Come back and sup with us this evening, and we will open the New Year with a festivity!"
"Hein? But there will be no supper," faltered Juliette.
"That's true," said Julien; "there will be no supper—I was forgetting.
Still—who knows? There is plenty of time; I shall have an idea.
Perhaps I may be able to borrow something from Tricotrin."
"I shall be enchanted," responded Sanquereau; "depend on my arrival! If
I am not mistaken, I recognize Tricotrin's voice on the stairs."
His ears had not deceived him; Tricotrin appeared with Pitou at this very moment.
"Greeting, my children!" they cried. "How wags the world? May the New
Year bring you laurels and lucre!"