Page:The Bohemians of the Latin Quarter.djvu/284

accession of wealth to give their mistresses the spring outfit that the coquetry of each of them had been wishing for so long. It was further agreed that whoever pocketed his money first should wait for the others, so that the purchases should be made at the same time, and that Mesdemoiselles Mimi, Musette, and Phémie should enjoy the pleasure of casting their old skins, as Schaunard put it, together.

Well, two or three days after this council Rodolphe came in first; his dental poem had been paid for; it weighed in eighty francs. The next day Marcel drew from Medicis the price of eighteen corporals’ likenesses, at six francs each.

Marcel and Rodolphe had all the difficulty in the world to hide their good fortune.

“It seems to me that I sweat gold,” said the poet.

“It is the same with me,” said Marcel. “If Schaunard delays much longer, it would be impossible for me to continue to play the part of an anonymous Crœsus.”

But the very next morning saw Schaunard arrive, splendidly attired in a bright yellow nankeen jacket.

“Good heavens!” exclaimed Phémie, dazzled on seeing her lover so elegantly got up, “where did you find that jacket?”

“I found it amongst my papers,” replied the musician, making a sign to his two friends to follow him. “I have drawn the coin,” said he, when they were alone. “Behold it,” and he displayed a handful of gold.

“Well,” exclaimed Marcel, “forward; let us sack the shops. How happy Musette will be.”

“How pleased Mimi will be,” added Rodolphe. “Well, are you coming, Schaunard?”

“Allow me to reflect,” replied the musician. “In decking out these ladies with the thousand caprices of fashion,