"What! this neighbor of mine is old and helpless, and he dares to threaten me! Upon my word! that is too funny; it is really amusing! I believe that the wisest way is to laugh at him." "Oh, yes! monsieur; but if you want me to go and speak to the old grumbler----" "No, no, my dear, it isn't necessary; I don't need any intermediary in this sort of thing; I know how to handle it myself. Go, go; we will arrange matters with the neighbor." And the dandified little Saint-Arthur, overjoyed to learn that his neighbor was old and ill, drew himself up and dismissed the chambermaid, pacing the floor of his room with a lordly swagger. The servant had not been gone two minutes when Beauvinet knocked lightly at the door, then opened it and entered Saint-Arthur's room, saying: "May I come in?" "What is it now? what do you want of me?" asked the young dandy, scrutinizing Beauvinet's wrinkled face. "Monsieur, it's me, Beauvinet." "You! I don't know you." "No, because Josephine asked the privilege of blacking monsieur's boots; but I also belong to the house." "In the first place, my dear fellow, nobody blacks my boots, because I only wear patent leathers; and they are never blacked; that was a stupid remark of yours; go on." "I was saying to monsieur that I belonged in the house." "What are you in the house?" "I am the young man, monsieur." "Ah! you are the young man, are you? how long have you been the young man?" "More than twenty years, monsieur." "You are an old young man then?" "Yes, monsieur." "Well, what do you want of me?" "Monsieur, your neighbor in the next room, Monsieur de Roncherolle, sent me." "Aha! it was the old fellow in the next room who sent you? Indeed! I am interested to know what message this gentleman who doesn't like parrots sends me. He sent you to apologize to me, I suppose?" "Yes, monsieur, yes; the gentleman told me to tell you that he knew he lost his temper too much just now, that it was the fault of the condition he's in." "Ah! he admits it; that's lucky; it was time!" "And then, as he has the gout, and as he would like to sleep all the time, the gentleman told me to ask you not to teach your cockatoo so long as he's sick; but as soon as he goes out, then you can play with your bird some more." "Upon my word, this is too much! I say, is this old fellow a downright idiot? I mustn't teach Coco to speak during the day, because my gentleman wants to sleep! Why, when a person wants to sleep all the time, he should go and live with mountain rats. And he thinks that I am going to gratify him----" "You understand, monsieur, I am simply repeating what he told me to tell you, being the young man of the house. What shall I say to the gentleman from you?" "Nothing. I will take my answer myself; yes, this gouty old fellow shall see me, he shall know whom he is dealing with; for it is time to put an end to all this nonsense." "Ah! monsieur means himself to see his neighbor?"