Vautrin (to Fil-de-Soie) You? The evening when I bade you exchange your scullion's cap for a footman's hat--poisoner-- Fil-de-Soie We will drop the extra names. Vautrin And you accompanied me as my footman to the field marshal's; while helping me on with my cloak, you stole the watch of the Cossack prince. Fil-de-Soie One of the enemies of France. Vautrin You, Buteux, you old malefactor, carried off the opera-glass of the Princesse d'Arjos the evening she set down your young master at our gate. Buteux It dropped on the carriage step. Vautrin You should have respectfully handed it back to her; but the gold and the pearls appealed to your tigerish talons. Lafouraille Now, now, surely people can have a little fun? Devil take it! Did not you, Jacques-- Vautrin What do you mean? Lafouraille Did not you, Monsieur Vautrin, require thirty thousand francs that this young man might live in princely style? We succeeded in satisfying you in the fashion of foreign governments, by borrowing, and getting credit. All those who come to ask for me leave some with us. And you are not satisfied. Fil-de-Soie And if, when I am sent to buy provisions without a sou, I may not be allowed to bring back some cash with me,--I might as well send in my resignation. Philosopher And didn't I sell our custom to four different coach-builders--5,000 francs each clip--and the man who got the order lost all? One evening Monsieur de Frescas starts off from home with wretched screws, and we bring him back, Lafouraille and I, with a span worth ten thousand francs, which have cost him only twenty glasses of brandy. Lafouraille No, it was Kirchenwasser. Philosopher Yes, and yet you fly into a rage-- Fil-de-Soie How are you going to keep house now? Vautrin Do you expect to do things of this kind for long? What I have permitted in order to set up our establishment, from this day forth I forbid. You wish, I suppose, to descend from robbery to swindling? If you do not understand what I say I will look out for better servants. Buteux And where will you find them? Lafouraille Let him hunt for them! Vautrin You forget, I see, that I have pledged myself to save your necks! Dear, dear, do you think I have sifted you, like seeds in a colander, through three different places of residence, to let you hover round a gibbet, like flies round a candle? I wish you to know that any imprudence that brings you to such a position, is, to men of my stamp, a crime. You ought to appear as supremely innocent as you, Philosopher, appeared to him who let you rip off his lace. Never forget the part you are playing; you are honest fellows, faithful domestics, and adore Raoul de Frescas, your master. Buteux Do you take this young man for a god? You have harnessed us to his car; but we know him no better than he knows us. Philosopher Tell me, is he one of our kind? Fil-de-Soie What is he going to bring us to?