Page:Ten Years Later.djvu/36

26 ing-money, nothing but sleep to take the place of repasts, companies, and balls. It has been said, "He who sleeps, dines;" but it has not been said, "He who sleeps, plays," or, "He who sleeps, dances." Manicamp, reduced to this extremity of neither playing nor dancing, for a week at least, was, consequently, very sad; he was expecting a usurer, and saw Malicorne enter. A cry of distress escaped him.

"Eh! what!" said he, in a tone which nothing can describe, "is that you again, dear friend?"

"Humph! you are very polite!" said Malicorne.

"Ay, but look you, I was expecting money, and, instead of the money, I see you come."

"And suppose I brought you some money?"

"Oh! then it is quite another thing. You are very welcome, my dear friend."

And he held out his hand, not for the hand of Malicorne, but for the purse. Malicorne pretended to be mistaken, and gave him his hand.

"And the money?" said Manicamp.

"My dear friend, if you wish to have it, earn it."

"What must be done for it?"

"Earn it, parbleu" "And after what fashion?"

"Oh! that is rather trying, I warn you."

"The devil!"

"You must get out of bed, and go immediately to Monsieur le Oomte de Guiche."

"I get up!" said Manicamp, stretching himself in his bed voluptuously, "oh, no, thank you!" "You have then sold all your clothes?"

"No; I have one suit left, the handsomest even; but I expect a purchaser."

"And the chausses?"

"Well, if you look, you can see them on that chair."

"Very well; since you have some chausses and a pourpoint left, put your legs into the first and your back into the other, have a horse saddled, and set off."

"Not I."

"And why not?"

"Morbleu! don't you know, then, that Monsieur de Guiche is at Etampes?"

"No; I thought he was at Paris; you will then only have fifteen leagues to go, instead of thirty."

"You are a wonderfully clever fellow. If I were to ride