Page:The Bohemians of the Latin Quarter.djvu/166

“Thanks, my lad,” said the uncle; “but you have need of your fortune. Ah! whilst you are here, you might, you who write such a good hand, copy out some bills for me that I want to send out.”

“My five francs are going to cost me dear,” said Rodolphe to himself, setting about the task, which he condensed.

“My dear uncle,” said he to Monetti, “I know how fond you are of music and I have brought you some concert tickets.”

“You are very kind, my boy. Will you stay to dinner?”

“Thanks, uncle, but I am expected at dinner in the Faubourg Saint Germain, indeed, I am rather put out about it for I have not time to run home and get the money to buy gloves.”

“You have no gloves; shall I lend you mine?” said his uncle.

“Thanks, we do not take the same size, only you would greatly oblige me by the loan of—”

“Twenty-nine sous to buy a pair? Certainly, my boy, here you are. When one goes into society one should be well dressed. Better be envied than pitied, as your aunt used to say. Come, I see you are getting on in the world, so much the better. I would have given you more,” he went on, “but it is all I have in the till. I should have to go upstairs and I cannot leave the shop, customers drop in every moment.”

“You were saying that business was not flourishing?”

Uncle Monetti pretended not to hear, and said to his nephew who was pocketing the twenty-nine sous:

“Do not be in a hurry about repayment.”

“What a screw,” said Rodolphe, bolting. “Ah!” he continued, “there are still thirty-one sous lacking. Where