"I'd have paid him later; he had no right to pay himself. Oh! I know the law, don't I? You ought to know about it, as you studied to be an advocate." "What do you want to-day? Why did you come here?" "I wanted to tell you that I am going to move! I can't stay in a house where the concierge has no sense of delicacy. By the way, you haven't a glass of anything to give me, have you? I came out without my breakfast this morning; I've done a good deal of running around, and it makes a man hollow. Come, Charlot, be a good fellow! Don't scowl at Fanfinet! You know that I'm a good friend." I made no reply, but opened a cupboard containing several bottles of different liqueurs. I took out one of them and a small glass, and placed them in front of Ballangier; who instantly pounced on the bottle and filled the glass to the brim, saying: "Won't you drink with me?" "No; I never drink liqueur in the morning." "As you please; there's no accounting for tastes. You are very delicate, you are; for my part, I'd drink a goblet of rum without winking. This is anisette--a lady's cordial! sweet as sugar! Never mind, it's not bad." "What are you doing now, Ballangier? Are you working anywhere? Come, tell me frankly." "I'm going to tell you just how it is. As if I could conceal anything from you! I always pour out my troubles on your breast." "Why did you come here to-day?" "I'll tell you all about it. But haven't you something a little stiffer to give me? Your anisette makes me sick at my stomach. Tell me where it is; don't disturb yourself." "I have nothing else to give you; moreover, I don't choose to give you anything else. If I listened to you, you would drink yourself drunk here. It's quite enough that you should take the liberty to smoke; you know perfectly well that I don't like it." "People smoke in the most select society." "Enough of this, monsieur! Why did you come here in spite of my prohibition?" "Oh! monsieur--what a tone! We seem to be in an infernal humor to-day, monseigneur! Luckily, I'm not easily frightened." I strove to keep down my irritation; I stood in front of my mirror and arranged my cravat, then finished dressing myself. Ballangier, seeing that I paid no heed to him, poured out another glass of anisette; then, trying to assume a piteous tone, he mumbled: "I know well enough that I don't amount to much, that I've often done foolish things. That's true; but, after all, youth must have its fling; mine seems to last a good while, but whose fault is it? And it's no time to treat me like a dog, just when I've made up my mind to turn over a new leaf, to straighten myself out and be sensible!" He paused and glanced at me; but I did not say a word, and he continued: