"He is very agreeable, this little clerk!--It's a pity that your friend has that plaster on his head--it makes him look too much like a poodle; if I were in his place, I would rather sneeze than wear that.--By the way, messieurs, I forgot the most essential article--the price of these clothes." "Thirty pistoles for the whole outfit," said Plumard, curtly, for he was not pleased to be thought to resemble a poodle. "Thirty pistoles it is! we will draw on the little bag. Money is made to keep moving, sandis!" While Passedix counted out the thirty pistoles to Plumard, for a costume which his uncle the second-hand dealer had said that he would sell for fifteen, Popelinette returned with a basket containing divers bottles. The old servant was dumfounded at sight of Passedix, whom she did not recognize. "Who in the world is this person?" she murmured. "This person, Popelinette, is your tenant, whom you have never seen in such gorgeous attire, and whom you did not deem capable of becoming so charming, I fear; there are so many people who notice only the clothes, and do not choose to take the trouble to look deeper! I was as handsome a man this morning, but I did not wear this magnificent costume, so that I was less admired!" "I am inclined to think that he was not admired at all!" said Plumard to his comrade. "Oh! monsieur le chevalier--why, you look like an orange now!" replied the old servant. "So much the better, my dear, so much the better! The orange is a distinguished and sweet-smelling fruit. I will go to some perfumer's shop this evening, and cause myself to be sprinkled from head to foot, so that people may smell me five minutes before they see me.--But let us drink, my dear clerks, let us taste these bottles--let us empty them, cadédis!--and no heeltaps!--Come, young plaster! Cheer up, and take off that shocking blister, which makes you look like a spaniel." Plumard made a wry face, but he drank; Bahuchet laughed at his companion's expression, and emptied his glass, which Passedix refilled. The two clerks were soon more than hilarious, and began to make remarks which might have compromised them in Passedix's eyes, if he had been in a condition to notice them; but, being engrossed by his new costume and his newly acquired wealth, and being passably excited himself by his frequent libations, the chevalier did not hear what the two clerks said; especially as the wine had loosened the tongues of all three, so that they all talked at once. "Six thousand francs a year! O fortune!--How becoming this color is to me!" "I like this wine rather well." "Plumard, we must go into the old clothes business; it pays." "Why does he call me _spaniel_ and _poodle_? I get tired of that, in the end.--Let's take a drink!" "Your health, boys!--Ah! when she sees me thus, as brilliant as the sun, I shall be one too many for her four-faced lover!" "Bahuchet's infernal pomade is responsible for my wearing this round thing on my head!"