"In that compromise--First, we both acknowledged each other as _joint_ authors of _La Tour de Nesle;_ second, it was specified that this play should always be published and acted under _my name,_ followed by asterisks; third, M. Dumas guaranteed me a settled sum of 48 francs per performance, and _half_ of his tickets. 'To what sum do they amount?' I asked him in all good faith. 'To 36 francs, upon my honour!' he replied, glancing at M. Harel; so I accepted 18 francs' worth of tickets. Next day, M. Harel would not fulfil the above-mentioned compromise, as far as it concerned himself, although he had been the instigator of, and witness to, it. It needed a _trial_ to compel him to do it, and M. Dumas blamed him on that occasion.... I had that to thank him for ... it was the _first_ and _last_ time. He also quoted my letter. "A little while later, I learnt that M. Dumas, who had declared to me upon his honour that there would only be 36 francs' worth of tickets, had over 50! But, while taking the oath, he had looked at M. Harel. The MS. was still for sale. Barba, who had offered 1000 francs for it, and never 1400, would give no more than 500 francs. Half that sum should have been paid down to each of us there and then, and the remainder in six months from that date. In a few days' time, when I went to M. Barba to get my 125 francs, I learnt that M. Dumas had come and taken my share of the cash _payable_ down with his own, _saying he was authorised to do so by me_!