"I understand perfectly, monsieur."
"Off with you, young Paul! You can send word to me by the waiter; don't give me my answer before those other gentlemen. Secrecy, above all things!"
"Very good, monsieur."
"Go! I will give you a handsome pourboire."
And Tobie Pigeonnier returned to the boulevard and joined his friends, who shouted to him when he came in sight:
"Come on! What a long while it takes you to send a message to your charmers!"
"Here I am, messieurs. Oh! a man has to show some consideration. Let us be fickle, if you will, but we must not forget to be gallant; that is my nature."
While the young men walked away, the messengers came together again. Sans-Cravate held up the five-franc piece he had received, crying:
"Paid in advance! a cart-wheel! what do you think of that! There's a generous young man for you! I would fight for him."
"But you probably have got to go a long way for him," said Jean Ficelle, with affected indifference.