"That is all right ... there, there, very good ... there, thank you. Now then ... place them on the counter at three inches' distance from one another.... Ah!..." "But what on earth is that for?" "You will see.... Now, would you have the goodness to lend me a lucifer match?" "Certainly ... take one." "Thanks." And Romieu would solemnly light the eight candle-ends. "But what is that for, monsieur?" "I am creating a farce." "A farce?" "Yes." "And now ...?" "And now the farce is done, I am going"; and Romieu would nod to the grocer and make off. "What! are you going without paying for the candle?" shrieked the grocer. "At least pay for the candle." Romieu would turn round-- "If I paid for the candle, where would be the farce?" And he would go on his way quite heedless of the grocer's objurgations. Occasionally, Romieu's ambitions would soar higher than teasing grocers, and he would play irreverent pranks in higher circles of commerce. One evening, he was passing along the rue de Seine, at the corner of the rue de Bussy, at half-past twelve midnight, when an assistant was preparing to close the shop of _les Deux Magots._ Generally, the establishment closed at eleven, so it was unusually late. Romieu rushed inside the shop. "Where is the proprietor of the establishment?" "M. P---?" "Yes." "He has gone to bed." "Has he been gone long?" "About an hour." "But he sleeps in the house?" "Certainly." "Take me to him." "But, monsieur...." "Without delay." "But...." "Instantly." "Is your communication then of so pressing a nature?" "It is so important that I shudder lest I be too late." "Since Monsieur assures me...." "Come, take me to him, take me to him quickly!" The assistant did not wait to close the shop, but took Romieu through into an anteroom, where M. P---- was snoring like a bass-viol. "M. P----! M. P----!..." shouted the shopboy. "Well, what is it? Go to the devil with you! What do you want?" "It is not I...." "What do you mean by saying it is not you?" "No, it is a gentleman who wishes a few words with you." "At this time of night?" "He says it is very urgent." "Where is the gentleman?" "He is at the door. Come in, monsieur, come in." Romieu entered on tiptoe, hat in hand, with a smiling countenance. "Pardon, monsieur, a thousand pardons for disturbing you." "Oh, do not mention it, monsieur; it is nothing. What is your business?" "I wish to speak with your partner." "With my partner?" "Yes." "But I have no partner." "You haven't?" "No." "Then why put on your sign, '_Aux Deux Magots_'? It deceives the public!" But sometimes it happened that the hoaxer was recognised, and then he was caught in his own trap. One day Rousseau went into a watchmaker's. "Monsieur, I wish to see some good watches." "Monsieur, here is the very article you desire." "Whose make is it?" "Leroy's." "Who is Leroy?" "One of the most famous of my craft." "Then you can guarantee it?" "I can."