Page:Memoirs of Vidocq, Volume 2.djvu/55

 "Fanfan hesitated. 'Accept them, and pay me when you can. On these terms there can be no hesitation in borrowing,' I jogged Fanfan's elbow, as much as to say, 'Take it.' He obeyed; and we pocketed the crowns, touched at the kindness of Belle-Rose.

"He was soon, however, to skin us of them. Experience is a great teacher, and M. Belle-Rose was a deep fellow!

"Breakfast went off with spirit; we talked much of the avarice of parents—the brutalities of apprentices' masters—of the blessings of independence—the immense wealth amassed in the Indies: the names of the Cape, Chandernagor, Calcutta, Pondicherry, and Tipoo-Saib were adroitly introduced; examples were quoted of the vast fortunes made by the young men whom Belle-Rose had recently engaged. 'It is not to boast,' said he, 'but I am not an unlucky fellow: it was I who enlisted little Martin; and now he is a nabob, rolling in gold and silver. I will bet that he has grown proud; and perhaps if he saw me would not recognise me. Oh, I have found many ingrates in my time! But what of that? It is the fate of man!'

"Our sitting was a long one. At the dessert, M. Belle-Rose again brought on the carpet the fine fruits of the Antilles: whilst he drank the wine, 'Cape wine for ever,' said he; 'how delicious that is:' with the coffee he expatiated on the Martinique: when they brought the cognac, 'Ah! ah!' said he, making a grimace, 'this is not equal to the rum, and still less the excellent pine-apple of Jamaica:' they poured out some parfait amour: 'This is drinkable,' said he, 'but still it is not even small beer in comparison with the liqueurs of the celebrated madame Anfous.'

"Belle-Rose was seated between Fanfan and myself and during the whole repast took great care of us. He kept up the incessant song of 'Empty your