"It's all the more disagreeable because these safes have secret locks and there's no way of opening them except by destroying them altogether; and that would be a pity, for they're quite expensive." "I should say so! that safe cost me nine hundred francs. But it's a solid fellow! You might try to smash it, but you couldn't do it. It would require a charge of gunpowder to open it, and then---- You see what has happened, monsieur; I am exceedingly mortified that you have come here for nothing, but it is not my fault; my friend will return in a week, and then----" The old gentleman, who had listened with an expression bordering on idiocy, rejoined in the same tone as when he first entered the room: "I have come to collect a note for three thousand francs, due to-morrow; but as to-morrow is a----" "All right, monsieur!" interposed Balloquet, impatiently; "I know perfectly well why you have come, and I was going to pay you. Parbleu! your money's there; it isn't the money that's lacking; indeed, you can hear my gold pieces dancing, thanks to my neighbor. But as I haven't the key of my safe, as it has been carried off by mistake,--for it wasn't done maliciously, I am sure,--I can't pay you to-day. It is annoying, I can understand that; but, after all, it's only a delay of a few days." The little old man blew his nose at great length, took a pinch of snuff, coughed, spat, wiped his nose, and began: "I have come to collect a note----" "Sapristi! this is too much!" cried Balloquet, throwing his head back on his pillow; then he crawled under his bedclothes, so that nothing was visible but the end of his nose, muttering: "Do what you please; I have had enough; I've nothing more to say." The bearer of the note of hand gazed at me in blank amazement. I tried to make him understand the situation. I took him by the hand and led him to the safe, where the squirrel was still at play, and said: "How do you expect my friend to pay you? He hasn't the key; it's at Rouen; and there's no way of forcing this lock." "But then I, who came here to----" "Come again in a few days; then my friend will have his key, and you will be paid. I have the honor to salute you, monsieur; if you should stay here three hours, the fact would remain the same, so you might as well go!" And I pushed him gently toward the door; he made no resistance, so I escorted him to the landing and closed the door on him. I heard him mumbling as he went downstairs: "I came to collect a note of hand for three thousand francs----" "Bravo, my dear Rochebrune, and a thousand thanks!" said Balloquet. "We had hard work; he was as tenacious as the devil, that fellow, but I am rid of him." "He'll come again in a few days." "He won't find me, for I am going to move, to hide myself, wall myself up. Would you have me pay a second time for those seamless abortions? Satiné will find money somehow--that's her business." The bell rang again.