“All right, et ees your own broth you brew, monsieur. I shall keep ze box. Et ees all mine. Do you hear? Et ees mine.”

“Faugh! A bluff! You wouldn’t dare. I ask you to try it.”

The Frenchman clutched the box still more tightly.

“Et ees mine,” he persisted stubbornly.

“You try it,” warned the other.

“No more will I come to you,” Frischette informed him. “We are through. I shall keep ze box.”

“Fool!” cried the other in vexation, beginning to relent “I suppose that I must humor you always. Very well, it shall be as you say. I give you my promise. But it will cost you a pretty penny this time.”

Suddenly they began to barter.

“Half,” said the Frenchman.

“Two-thirds,” insisted the man with the beard.