"Ah!" he cried; "the ten francs that I loaned to Mathieu, and that he paid back this morning; I had forgotten them. That makes up the amount and two sous over--for the waiter." "If I were in your place," said Cherami, "I would keep Mathieu's ten francs, so that we might have something to refresh ourselves with when we go back; and I would leave my cane for the balance." "What! you want me to ask for credit when I have enough money to pay the bill?" "You haven't enough; for with a bill of twenty-two francs, you can't think of giving the waiter less than twenty sous; if you offer him two, he'll throw them in your face." "If he refuses them, he'll get nothing at all--so much the worse for him! but I shall pay my bill." "And suppose you feel the need of something while we are walking back?" "We have dined so well that I shall not want anything." "On the contrary, you may have an attack of indigestion--you are very red already--and then you'll want a glass of sugar and water." "I can do without it; I am not in the habit of being sick." "There are lots of things we're not in the habit of having, and yet they come--as, sudden death, for example; certainly one hasn't the habit of it, and it takes you all of a sudden." Cherami's arguments were of no avail; Monsieur Courbichon held his ground. He called the waiter, paid for his dinner, and told him that he gave him only two sous because he had nothing but banknotes which he did not wish to change. They left the restaurant. The little bald man carried the pieces of his cane, but his face wore a very unamiable expression. Cherami, who had ceased to enjoy his society, soon left him, saying: "Give me your address, my dear friend. I will come soon and bid you good-morning." "It is useless, monsieur; I start to-morrow for Touraine, where I expect to settle." "What! you are leaving Paris, too? Very well; if you go to Tours, send me some plums--Rue de l'Orillon, Belleville, Hotel du Bel-Air; but prepay the freight!" Monsieur Courbichon saluted Cherami, and hurried off as fast as his little legs would carry him, thrusting a fragment of his cane into each pocket. XXVIII A CONSTANT LOVER Monsieur Gerbault transmitted his daughter's reply to the two suitors who had asked for her hand. Young Anatole took his rebuff without any indication of emotion. He said simply: "I am very thorry, becauth our two voitheth went very well together. I am thure that we would have thung beautifully, and I am tho fond of muthic that we thould have been very happy." The Comte de la Beriniere did not accept Adolphine's refusal of his offer so philosophically.