Several times did the unhappy banker pass his geography in review, but his knowledge of this science was indeed finite, and the Landes, Picardy, and such like spots, alone presented themselves to his imagination. In this predicament the light of friendship suddenly threw a ray over his thinking faculties; he remembered my father, the companion of his boyhood, with whom he had been brought up,--his great friend, without doubt, but of whom he had not thought for the last ten years. "By all the blue devils that dance in my brain!" said the unhappy _millionnaire_, starting up on his bed of pain, as if he had a spring in his back, and throwing at the nose of his astonished apothecary, who was watching him, the draught presented to him,--"by the wig of my respected grandfather,--by the beard of Æsculapius, I have found the real friend who will pour over my head the oil of health." "My good sir," said his attendant, "pray calm yourself, and take this pill" ... "Yes, that dear friend, he will set me all to rights--he will bring to my heavy eyelids those peaceful slumbers which now, alas! I never enjoy." "But, Sir," repeated the apothecary, "pray be so good as to lay down and swallow this." "Back, felon of hell! horse-leech, son of a poultice! go, doctor of the devil, and join your friend in black below." "But _Monsieur le Banquier_"---- "Off I say, off!--sinister raven, cease your croaking! Silence--take the abominable drugs yourself--poison yourself, you wretch. Give me my trousers, and let me dress myself. Hey, Bilboquet!--bring my hot water, razors, and shaving soap. Hurrah! Phoebus, light the sun and put out the stars; arise day! Into the saddle, postillions,--here, bring some cigars. Hurrah! the wind is up; now, my stout boatmen, down to your oars." "Halloo! halloo!" shouted his attendant, "help! help!" and he got at both bells and rang away with might and main; but before any one came the banker was out of bed, struck his attendant a blow in the eye, which made him see one hundred and forty-six suns, and laid him upon the floor, after which he commenced waltzing _en chemise_ in his delirium, all round the room with a chair, dragging after him the unfortunate hero of the pestle and mortar, and roaring at the top of his voice these lines of Racine: Peut-être on t'a conté la fameuse disgrâce De l'altière Vasthi dont j'occupe la place, Lorsque le Roi, centre elle enflammé de dépit,-- followed by-- Quel profâne en ces lieux ose porter ses pas? Holà, gardes!--