"It's a cab-driver who has locked his wheel with that of a motor car," he said. "And what has happened?" said Marceline. "Why, he can't unlock it," said Theophrastus. "And all this crowd about a trifle like that! How silly people are!" said Marceline. Thereupon she invited M. Mifroid to come home and dine with them. He needed but a little pressing to accept the invitation; and they strolled slowly back to Gerando Street. The dinner was very lively, for M. Mifroid was still bent on shining; and his example spurred Adolphe to splendid emulation. It was when they were taking their coffee at the end of dinner that M. Mifroid suddenly seemed uneasy. He felt in all his pockets, trying to find his handkerchief. His search was vain; it was not there. After a final search in the pockets in the tails of his frock-coat, he ground his teeth, gave his moustache a despairing tug, and took a deep breath. Two minutes later Theophrastus blew his nose. Marceline asked him where he had got that pretty handkerchief. M. Mifroid looked at it and saw that it was his. He laughed somewhat awkwardly, declared that it was an excellent joke, took it from Theophrastus, and put it in his pocket. Theophrastus could not understand it at all. Suddenly M. Mifroid turned pale, and felt in his left-hand breast pocket. "Goodness! What has become of my pocket-book?" he cried. The explanation of its absence was entirely simple: someone had picked the pocket of the Commissary of Police of his pocket-book with five hundred francs in it. M. Mifroid did not so much regret the loss of the five hundred francs as he was furious to find himself ridiculous. Marceline made fun of him gently as she condoled with him on its loss; she could not help it. He was furious indeed. "Let me lend you any money you want for to-night, M. Mifroid," said Theophrastus amiably. He pulled out a pocket-book. M. Mifroid uttered a sharp cry: it was his own pocket-book! Theophrastus turned a rich scarlet. M. Mifroid stared at him, took the pocket-book from his trembling fingers, recovered his five hundred francs, and put them in his pocket. Then he forthwith began to make a hundred pressing occupations his excuse for taking a hurried leave of them, and said good-bye. As he was clattering down the staircase, he called back up it, with some heat, to his friend Adolphe, who had hurried out of the flat after him: "Whoever are these people you have introduced me to?" Adolphe said nothing; he wiped his perspiring brow. The clattering footsteps of M. Mifroid died away down the stairs; and he went slowly back into the dining-room. Theophrastus had just finished turning out his pockets. On the table lay three watches, six handkerchiefs, four pocket-books, containing considerable sums of money, and eighteen purses! CHAPTER VI THE PORTRAIT The three friends stared at the three watches, the six handkerchiefs, the four pocket-books, and the eighteen purses in a blank and silent consternation.