Vautrin Of course. And you, Lafouraille, you can become Count of Saint Helena; and what would you like to be, Buteux? Buteux I should like to be a philanthropist, for the philanthropist always becomes a millionaire. Philosopher And I, a banker. Fil-de-Soie He wishes to be a licensed professional. Vautrin Show yourselves then, according as occasion demands it, blind and clear-sighted, adroit and clumsy, stupid and clever, like all those who make their fortune. Never judge me, and try to understand my meaning. You ask who Raoul de Frescas is? I will explain to you; he will soon have an income of twelve hundred thousand francs. He will be a prince. And I picked him up when he was begging on the high road, and ready to become a drummer-boy; in his twelfth year he had neither name nor family; he came from Sardinia, where he must have got into some trouble, for he was a fugitive from justice. Buteux Oh, now that we know his antecedents and his social position-- Vautrin Be off to your lodge! Buteux Little Nini, daughter of Giroflee is there-- Vautrin She may let a spy pass in. Buteux She! She is a little cat to whom it is not necessary to point out the stool-pigeons. Vautrin You may judge my power from what I am in process of doing for Raoul. Ought he not to be preferred before all? Raoul de Frescas is a young man who has remained pure as an angel in the midst of our mire-pit; he is our conscience; moreover, he is my creation; I am at once his father, his mother, and I desire to be his guiding providence. I, who can never know happiness, still delight in making other people happy. I breathe through his lips, I live in his life, his passions are my own; and it is impossible for me to know noble and pure emotions excepting in the heart of this being unsoiled by crime. You have your fancies, here I show you mine. In exchange for the blight which society has brought upon me, I give it a man of honor, and enter upon a struggle with destiny; do you wish to be of my party? Obey me. All In life, and death--