He opened the chest, threw in three large two-sou pieces, then said to me:
"Will you lend me two hundred-sou pieces for a few minutes? They will do much better."
"With pleasure, my dear fellow! do you want more?"
"No, two are enough, but I don't happen to have any at this moment."
He took out the two-sou pieces and replaced them by the five-franc pieces I had given him; then, untying his squirrel, he put him into the chest, and at once closed and locked the door, taking care to remove the key. Then he closed the closet. Having completed this operation, he returned to the bed, motioning to me to open the door.
An old man stood on the landing, well dressed, very short and stout, with a red face; he had all the externals of a retired restaurant keeper.
"Monsieur Balloquet, if you please?"
"This is the place, monsieur."
"I have come to collect a note for——"
"Be good enough to come in, monsieur."