“I have nine francs.”
“Nine francs! Hum! you’ll have to eat wild cow.”[A]
[A] Manger de la vache enragée: i.e., to endure hunger and privation.
“What do you mean with your cow? I ate chicken and eels and pigeons and ducks.”
“Yes, but you spent fifteen francs, and with the nine you’ve left, you can’t eat three more meals like that.”
I made no reply, but I realized that the hunchback was right; and yet, as I had a will of my own, and as I was accustomed to make up my mind quickly, I looked at the little man with a decided air, and said to him after a moment:
“All right! I will eat cow.”
“I see that you have pluck,” he said; “but still, when a man can find a chance to live well while travelling, it isn’t to be despised; and I can supply you with the means.”
“You can?”
“Yes, myself.”