"I hope you have some more serious furniture than this," said the landlord. "You know I must have security for my rent." "The deuce! Is a palace not sufficient security for the rent of a garret?" "No sir, I want real chairs and tables in solid mahogany." "Alas! Neither gold nor mahogany makes us happy, as for the ancient poet well says. And I can't bear mahogany; it's too common a wood. Everybody has it." "But surely sir, you must have some sort of furniture." "No, it takes up too much room. You are stuck full of chairs, and have no place to sit down." "But at any rate, you have a bed. What do you sleep on?" "On a good conscience, sir." "Excuse me, one more question," said the landlord, "What is your profession?" At this very moment the young man's porter, returning on his second trip, entered the court. Among the articles with which his truck was loaded, an easel occupied a conspicuous position. "Sir! Sir!!" shrieked old Durance, pointing out the easel to his landlord, "it's a painter!" "I was sure he was an artist!" exclaimed the landlord in his turn, the hair of his wig standing up in affright, "a painter!! And you never inquired after this person," he continued to his porter, "you didn't know what he did!" "He gave me five francs _arrest_," answered the poor fellow, "how could I suspect--" "When you have finished," put in the stranger-- "Sir," replied Monsieur Bernard, mounting his spectacles with great decision, "since you have no furniture, you can't come in. The law authorizes me to refuse a tenant who brings no security." "And my word, then?" "Your word is not furniture, you must go somewhere else. Durance will give you back your earnest money." "Oh dear!" exclaimed the porter, in consternation, "I've put it in the Savings' Bank." "But consider sir," objected the young man. "I can't find another lodging in a moment! At least grant me hospitality for a day." "Go to a hotel!" replied Monsieur Bernard. "By the way," added he, struck with a sudden idea, "if you like, I can let you a furnished room, the one you were to occupy, which has the furniture of my defaulting tenant in it. Only you know that when rooms are let this way, you pay in advance." "Well," said the artist, finding he could do no better, "I should like to know what you are going to ask me for your hole." "It is a very comfortable lodging, and the rent will be twenty-five francs a month, considering the circumstances, paid in advance." "You have said that already, the expression does not deserve being repeated," said the young man, feeling in his pocket. "Have you change for five hundred francs?" "I beg your pardon," quoth the astonished landlord. "Five hundred, half a thousand; did you never see one before?" continued the artist, shaking the bank-note in the faces of the landlord and porter, who fairly lost their balance at the sight.