"Yes!" answered the patterer. "Oh! here is another who never invented bootjacks and hard eggs (I say eggs, because I adore them). Isn't he a fool! this Germain! I used to think that he was a spy, but he is too much of a flat for that!" "Oh! you think so?" said Skeleton, exchanging a rapid and significant glance with Nicholas and Barbillon. "I am as sure of it as that I see ham! And, then, how the devil would you have him spy?--he is always alone; he speaks to no one, and no one speaks to him; he runs away from us as if we had the cholera. Besides, he will not spy for a long time; he is going to be boxed up alone." "He!" cried Skeleton; "when?" "To-morrow morning there will be a cell vacant." "You see we must kill him at once. He does not sleep in my ward; to-morrow will be too late. To-day we have only until four o'clock, and now it is almost three," whispered Skeleton to Nicholas, while Pique-Vinaigre talked with Barbillon. "All the same," answered Nicholas aloud, pretending to answer an observation of Skeleton, "Germain looks as if he despises us." "On the contrary, my children," answered Pique-Vinaigre, "you intimidate this young man. He looks upon himself, in comparison with you, as the least of the least. Just now, what do you think he said?" "How should I know?" "He said to me, 'You are very happy, Pique-Vinaigre, to dare to speak with the famous Skeleton (he used the word famous) as an equal and a companion.' I am dying to speak to him; but he produces an effect upon me so respectful--so respectful--that, should I see the chief of police in flesh, and bones, and uniform, I could not be more overcome." "He told you that?" replied Skeleton, feigning to believe him, and to be flattered at the admiration he excited in Germain. "As true as that you are the greatest magsman on the earth, he told me so." "Then it is different," answered Skeleton; "I must make it up with him. Barbillon had a mind to pick a quarrel, but he, too, will do well to let him alone." "He will do better," cried Pique-Vinaigre, persuaded that he had turned away the danger with which Germain was threatened. "He will do better, for this poor fellow won't dispute; he is one of my kind, bold as a hare." "Yes, it is a pity," said Skeleton; "we reckoned on this quarrel to amuse us after dinner, the time appears so long." "Yes. What shall we do then?" asked Nicholas. "Since it is so, let Pique-Vinaigre tell us a story. I will not seek a quarrel with Germain," said Barbillon. "Agreed, agreed!" cried the story-teller. "That is one condition; but there is another, and without both I tell no stories." "Come, what is your other condition?"