Lafouraille We obey on condition that the Society of the Ten Thousand be reconstituted, so that never less than ten thousand francs at a time be assigned to us; at present we have not any funds in common. Fil-de-Soie When are we all to be capitalists? Buteux If the gang knew that for the last six months I have been disguising myself as an old porter, without any object, I should be disgraced. If I am willing to risk my neck, it is that I may give bread to my Adele, whom you have forbidden me to see, and who for six months must have been as dry as a match. Lafouraille (to the other two) She is in prison. Poor man! Let us spare his feelings. Vautrin Have you finished? Come now, you have made merry here for six months, eaten like diplomats, drunk like Poles, and have wanted nothing. Buteux Yes, we are rusting out! Vautrin Thanks to me, the police have forgotten you! You owe your good luck to me alone! I have erased the brand from your foreheads. I am the head, whose ideas you, the arms, carry out. Philosopher We are satisfied. Vautrin You must all obey me blindly. Lafouraille Blindly. Vautrin Without a murmur. Fil-de-Soie Without a murmur. Vautrin Or else let us break our compact, and be off with you! If I meet with ingratitude from you, to whom can I venture hereafter to do a service? Philosopher To no one, my emperor. Lafouraille I should rather say, our great teacher! Buteux I love you more than I love Adele. Fil-de-Soie We worship you. Vautrin If necessary, I shall even have to beat you. Philosopher We'll take it without a murmur. Vautrin To spit in your face; to bowl over your lives like a row of skittles. Buteux But I bowl over with a knife. Vautrin Very well--Kill me this instant. Buteux It is no use being vexed with this man. Do you wish me to restore the opera-glass? I intended it for Adele! All (surrounding Vautrin) Would you abandon us, Vautrin? Lafouraille Vautrin! Our friend. Philosopher Mighty Vautrin! Fil-de-Soie Our old companion, deal with us as you will. Vautrin Yes, and I can deal with you as I will. When I think what trouble you make, in your trinket-stealing, I feel inclined to send you back to the place I took you from. You are either above or below the level of society, dregs or foam; but I desire to make you enter into society. People used to hoot you as you went by. I wish them to bow to you; you were once the basest of mankind, I wish you to be more than honest men. Philosopher Is there such a class? Buteux There are those who are nothing at all. Vautrin There are those who decide upon the honesty of others. You will never be honest burgesses, you must belong either to the wretched or the rich; you must therefore master one-half of the world! Take a bath of gold, and you will come forth from it virtuous! Fil-de-Soie To think, that, when I have need of nothing, I shall be a good prince!