“But, monsieur, I am very sure that that twenty francs isn’t mine, as I didn’t own a sou to buy sugar, and that was why I was crying on the landing.”
“Well! what then? how does that concern me?”
“Why, monsieur, as nobody else but you put anything in my pocket, it must have been you who put these five-franc pieces there.”
“You are dreaming!”
“Oh, no!”
“It wasn’t I!”
“I am sure that it was!”
“Corbleu! you tire me! Well, suppose it was? If I chose to put those five-franc pieces in your pocket, am I not at liberty to put my money where I choose? Do you propose to prevent me from helping you, when I have too much money, and know that you haven’t enough? You are very proud, it seems, master messenger?”
“Oh! it isn’t that, monsieur; but you have already overwhelmed us with your kindness; it would be wrong to show our appreciation of it by accepting what we don’t need.”
“You lie! you do need money, for last night you were without a sou, and I don’t suppose that you have earned any during the night.”