A few moments later, Tobie lost fifteen francs to Monsieur Varinet, who had a heap of gold and silver in front of him. He offered him his fetich, saying: "Oblige me by giving me the change for this; it will make it easier for me to pay." Monsieur Varinet took the olive and placed it in front of him, and handed four hundred francs in gold and eighty-five in silver to Tobie, who seemed to take great pleasure in receiving the change for his olive, and, while pretending to arrange it in piles, seized the opportunity to slip several gold pieces into his pocket. "You owe me twenty-one francs," said Balivan. "Oh, yes! How the five hundred francs melts away! It will soon be gone." "Oh! you have a good margin!" "Isn't it time for us to give up our seats?" "We don't go out next; it's Monsieur Varinet's turn and Albert's." "Oh! I thought it was ours." "Of course not, as we have just come in." Tobie seemed very anxious now to leave the table; but he was obliged to remain, while Célestin and Mouillot took the places occupied by Albert and Varinet. The latter carefully bestowed the olive in his fob. "I must make sure not to lose that," he said; "it's as good as a banknote. If I should take it into my head to eat it, it would be rather expensive." "I've lost six hundred francs," said Albert; "but I don't care a damn; for I trust that the proverb will come true in my case as in Tobie's, and then I shall be lucky in love to-morrow! Ah! how I wish it were to-morrow! and it's only half-past twelve." "Half-past twelve!" cried Tobie. "Mon Dieu! I said nothing to my concierge, and I'm horribly afraid I shan't be able to get in." "You can pass the night here." "Sleep away from home! No, indeed! Besides, I have an appointment at my rooms early to-morrow; and when I don't get a few hours' sleep, I'm always sick a week." "What in the devil's the use of such a man as that!" said Mouillot; "for my part, I always sit up as long as anyone wants, I drink as much as anyone, and I make love as much as anyone; and I'm always well!" Albert was walking about the studio; he paused in front of the different portraits of women, and said: "What lucky dogs these painters are! When they have a pretty woman for a model, they have a right to look at her as often and as long as they please; to order her to smile; and to put her in whatever position they like best!" "It's a very voluptuous profession!" said Tobie, glancing constantly at Balivan's watch, which had been placed on the table in order to regulate the coming-in and going-out of the different players. "Well, messieurs, it seems to me your game is rather slow," said Varinet, walking up to the table. "Parbleu! Tobie keeps passing with superb hands," cried Balivan. "It would seem that he doesn't want to resort to another olive." "I am waiting for a lucky streak. Ah! now it's time for us to go out." Pigeonnier hastily left his seat, and Balivan was obliged to do the same, but he did it unwillingly.