"We meant to play a practical joke on you, and we got ourselves arrested and put in the guardhouse!"
"Ha! ha! charming! delicious!"
The little man twisted himself about in an easy-chair, and laughed till he cried.
"But tell me why you have come to see me so early in the day? have you come to redeem your fetich? Perhaps you don't know Varinet's address?"
"I didn't come for that, my friend. I have another reason; I have a favor to ask of you."
"You want to borrow five hundred francs?"
"That isn't what I came for, but if you are willing to lend it to me, it would be very welcome just at this time."
"Well, why did you come and disturb my sleep?"
"In the first place, my friend, it's late, and I wouldn't have waked you if your servant hadn't told me that you had something on hand this morning."
"Great heaven!" cried Albert, hastily throwing off the bedclothes; "you remind me! what time is it, pray?"