"No, Boulotte; no, dear angel of my dreams,--when they are golden,--I have not come to invite you to dinner; because the tide is low, and I don't propose to take such a woman as you to any cheap place." "Oh! that wouldn't make any difference to me! there are cheap places where they give you very good stewed rabbit. But still, if you haven't any money, I'll give you half of my black radish and fried potatoes, which I'm just going out to buy." "You are a dear, good child; you share with a friend all that you possess. That isn't very much, to be sure; but it's all the more creditable of you to give away half of it. Thanks, my dear love, but I cannot accept the feast you offer me. I am on the lookout for a certain person; I saw him two days ago, but at sight of me he ran like a thief; I couldn't catch him, but I shall sooner or later!" "Is it somebody who owes you money?" "No; he doesn't owe me any, but he'll give me some, all the same. Oh! I'll worm it out of him, and without remorse too, as he's very rich. Then, I'll give you a regular Belshazzar, with truffles and champagne!" "Why will this man give you money?" "Because I know his secret." "What sort of a secret?" "If I should tell you, it wouldn't be a secret any longer." "So you think I am very leaky, do you?" "My dear little Boulotte, when I know a secret, which may be the goose with the golden eggs to me, I should be a great fool if I gave it away. But let's drop the subject; that wasn't what I came here for. Boulotte, you must do me a favor." "One, two, three! go on, don't hesitate; for I'm quite sure you don't want to borrow money of me." "What do you take me for? You probably know some of the women who sell second-hand clothes and such things, don't you?" "Yes, I know several of 'em; but they have pretty poor stuff. Do you want to buy me a shawl?" "Nonsense! do you know one named Madame Putiphar?" "Madame Putiphar? No, I don't know her; do you want to make her acquaintance?" "Yes, and I counted on you to find her for me." "Oh! that's easy enough! I'll ask Sara and Clara and Cora--they know so many of those women. In two days I shall be able to give you all the information you want concerning this honest tradeswoman." "Very well. To assist you in your investigations, you can say that she arranges marriages." "That's very definite! they all do." "Really! I fancy that they disarrange a good many too. No matter--do my errand; I leave you to your radish and your fried potatoes; don't eat too much. You will see me again in three days; and if I have found my man, we will have, not stewed rabbit, but a salmi of truffled partridges together."