box-office will be open from three-quarters past two until a quarter before three for the payment of claims." The box-office was besieged at half-past two by a crowd of creditors who had failed to see the hoax. "My dear Frederic," said Harel one night to the actor, "I have a proposition to make to you that will not displease you."--"Very good: tell it me to-morrow at breakfast." The next day they breakfasted, as our hero always breakfasted in those days, on truffles and champagne. Harel's proposition was this: "My project is to diminish your salary one-half."--"What!" cried Lemaitre in very natural surprise, "are you mocking me?"--"The theatre is on the verge of bankruptcy," pleaded Harel.--"How can that be? I have earned more than a million francs for it. What the devil do you do with your money?"--"My dear fellow," quoth Harel, "what do you do with yours?"--"Ah! that's different: I have no account to give to anybody but myself."--"But come, let us not get angry," said Harel: "I will continue to pay you the whole sum, while appearing to give you but half of it. In this way I shall be at liberty to cut down the other salaries, and the theatre can go on." Lemaitre arose, looked Harel straight in the eyes, and answered, "You have the secret of sobering a man by a single phrase. So you think me capable--" Harel interrupted him hurriedly, not relishing the angry light in the actor's eyes: "No, no--not at all: I was joking."--"Ah, you were joking? _Eh bien_, your joke is a horribly bad one. Pray don't repeat it."