"A very simple thing, which will not disturb you in the least. When you go home to-night, go into Landry the bath keeper's place--he is your neighbor--and hand his wife this white plume, which I picked up under their balcony one night when I walked home with you. Then you will say to Dame Ragonde: 'Your daughter's lovers lose their plumes at night, scaling your balcony; here is one which I picked up, and which belongs to a young nobleman whose name your daughter will tell you.'--And then you will go away. It's the simplest thing in the world." Plumard pushed his stool away from the table, crying: "A very pretty commission that! I shall be well treated when I deliver that message.--No, no! do your errand yourself--you may have all the profit." "As you please; but since you refuse to do it, we will say no more about the jar of pomade." And Bahuchet began to whistle with an indifferent air. After a few minutes Plumard said, between his teeth: "What an idea, to send to that girl's mother the plume her lover lost!--That is downright wicked, it's a villainous trick!--Have you any reason to complain of pretty Bathilde? I am surprised at that; I thought that you didn't know her." "Plumard! there are mysteries which it is impossible to divulge.--As for the girl, she will say to her mother: 'It is not true, I have no lover'; and that will be the end of it." "Do you think so?" "Parbleu! are girls who have lovers ever at a loss for a lie?" "That is true.--But another suggestion occurs to me." "State it." "Let us assume that I undertake this--thorny commission; how do I know that you will give me the jar of pomade then? You will laugh in my face when I claim it." "I understand your suspicion, having now and then played some rather neat tricks on you; and I am so far from being angry with you, that I propose to prove to you that it will not be so this time." And taking from his belt the purse he had received, Bahuchet produced a beautiful rose crown and placed it in Plumard's hand, saying: "See, here is gold--and of good alloy. If I do not give you the jar of pomade when you claim it, I will allow you to keep this gold piece and not return it to me.--Do you think that I am tricking you, now?" Plumard turned the coin over and over in his hand; he weighed it, rang it on the table, then put it in his pocket, and offered his comrade his hand, saying: "It is a bargain; I will deliver the plume." "And you will say exactly what I have told you?" "I will say it without omitting a word. Where is the plume?" "Here it is; conceal it under your doublet, as I have done. Let us empty this jug of wine, then you must go about your commission." "This evening?" "Why not? It is better to have it done with at once." "And you will go for the jar of pomade?" "I told you that I would give it to you to-morrow, and you may rely upon it. In any event, it seems to me that you have a sufficient guaranty." "That is true."