Varinet lost no time in taking out his purse, overjoyed to be rid of the olive stone, which he produced and handed to Tobie, saying:
"Here is your fetich, monsieur."
"I don't recognize it," said Tobie, scrutinizing the olive.
"You have left it in my hands so long, monsieur," retorted the young man with the white eyelashes, with some asperity, "that it has had ample time to change. If you had redeemed it the next day, as the custom is with gambling debts, it wouldn't have shrunk to its present size."
Tobie had nothing to say; he took out his wallet, and opened it in such a way that they could all see a number of banknotes, one of which he handed to Varinet, saying:
"One more or less doesn't make much show when you have plenty."
"That wallet of yours would put Célestin to rights just now," said Mouillot.
"Why so?"
"Because he's in prison for debt—yes, been there two months."
"No, really? in prison for debt! poor Célestin! I'll go and see him; and I'll see that he's released."