This visitor was Daddy Micou, the receiver and lodging-house keeper in the Passage de la Brasserie, into whose abode Madame de Fermont and her daughter, victims of Jacques Ferrand's cupidity, had been compelled to retreat. Father Micou knew the penalties to which he was amenable for having many a time and oft obtained at low prices the fruits of the robberies of Nicholas and many others of his stamp. The widow's son being apprehended, the receiver felt he was almost at the mercy of the ruffian, who might impeach him as a regular buyer. Although this accusation could not be supported by flagrant proofs, still it was not the less dangerous, the less dreaded by Daddy Micou, and he had thus instantly obeyed the orders which Nicholas had transmitted to him by a discharged prisoner. "Ah, ah! how goes it, Daddy Micou?" said the brigand. "At your service, my good fellow," replied the receiver, eagerly. "As soon as I saw the person you sent to me, I directly--" "Oh, you are becoming ceremonious, daddy!" said Nicholas, with impatience. "Why is this, because I'm in trouble?" "No, no, my lad,--no, no!" replied the receiver, who was not anxious to seem on terms of familiarity with this ruffian. "Come, come, be as familiar as usual, or I shall think you have forgotten our intimacy, and that would break my heart." "Well, well," said Micou, with a groan, "I directly went about your little commissions." "That's all right, daddy. I knew well enough that you would not forget your friends. And my tobacco?" "I have left two pounds at the lodge, my boy." "Is it good?" "Cannot be better." "And the knuckle of ham?" "Left at the lodge, also, with a four-pound white loaf; and I have added something that will surprise you, in the shape of a dozen hard eggs and a Dutch cheese." "This is what I call doing the thing like a friend! And the wine?" "Six bottles of capital. But, you know, you will only have one bottle a day." "Well, that can't be helped, and so one must make up one's mind to it." "I hope you are satisfied with me, my boy?" "Certain, and I shall be so again, and for ever, Father Micou; for the ham, the cheese, the eggs, and the wine will only last just so long as it takes to swallow them; but, as a friend of mine remarked, when they are gone there'll be more where they came from, thanks to you, who will always do the handsome thing so long as I do the same." "What! You expect--" "That in two or three days you will renew my little stock, daddy dear." "Devil burn me if I do! It's all very good for once--" "For once! What d'ye mean, man? Why, ham and wine are always good, you know that very well." "Certainly, but I have not undertaken to feed you in delicacies." "Oh, Daddy Micou, that's shabby--indecent. What, refuse me ham! One who has so often brought you 'double tresse' (stolen lead)!" "Hush, hush! You mischievous fellow," cried the alarmed receiver.