Time passed on. As Beaumarchais had given to the comedians his first two dramas, hope was entertained that he would demand no return for his _Barbier_. Early in May, 1776, to their surprise and dismay, came a polite request that an exact account of the part due him as the author be made out and given to him. The play then had been given thirty-two times. Not wishing to stir up trouble between themselves and their excellent friend, while at the same time unable and unwilling to grant the request, the comedians met the difficulty by a profound silence. “At last,” says Beaumarchais in his _Compte rendu_, written several years later, “one of them asked me if it was my intention to give the piece to the _Comédie_ or to require the right of authorship? I replied laughing like Sagnarelle: ‘I will give it, if I wish to give it, and I will not give it, if I do not wish to give it; which does not in the least interfere with my receiving the account; a present has no merit, excepting as he who gives knows its value.’ “One of the actors insisted and said, ‘If you will not give it, Monsieur, tell us at least how many times you desire that we play it for your profit, after that it will belong to us.’ [Illustration: Charles Philippe--Comte D’Artois] “‘What necessity, messieurs, that it should belong to you?’ “‘A great many authors make similar arrangements with us.’ “‘Those authors are not to be imitated.’ “‘They are very well satisfied, monsieur, because if they do not enjoy the profits of their piece, at least they have the advantage of seeing it played more often. Do you wish that we play it for your profit six, eight, or even ten times? Speak.’ “The proposition seemed to me so amusing that I replied in the same gay tone, ‘Since you permit me, I ask you to play it a thousand and one times.’ “‘Monsieur, you are very modest.’ “‘Modest, Messieurs, as you are just. What mania is it that you have, to wish to inherit from people who are not dead? My piece not belonging to you until it falls to a very low receipt, you ought to desire that it never belong to you. Are not eight-ninths of a hundred louis, more than nine-ninths of fifty? I see, Messieurs, that you love your interests better than you understand them.’ “I laughingly saluted the assembly, who smiled a little on their side because their orator was slightly flushed with argument. “At last, on January 3rd, 1777, M. Desessarts, one of the comedians, came to my house ... bringing me four thousand, five-hundred, and six livres as belonging to me from my _droits d’auteur_ for the thirty-two performances of the _Barbier_. No account being joined, I did not accept the money, although M. Desessarts pressed me to do so in the most polite way in the world. “‘There are a great many points upon which it is impossible for the _Comédie_ to give MM. the authors anything but _une côte mal taillée_ (in lump, without detail)’.