Page:The Bohemians of the Latin Quarter.djvu/332

“Yes,” said Marcel, going to the mantel-piece and taking up three pieces of gold. “Sixty, sixty it is,” and he placed the money on the table just out of the landlord’s reach.

“At last,” thought the latter. His countenance lighted up, and he too laid down his receipt on the table.

Schaunard, Colline, and Rodolphe looked anxiously on.

“Well, sir,” quoth Marcel, “since you are a Burgundian, you will not be sorry to see a countryman of yours.” He opened a bottle of old Macon, and poured out a bumper.

“Ah! perfect,” said the landlord. “Really, I never tasted better.”

“An uncle of mine who lives there, sends me a hamper or two occasionally.”

The landlord rose, and was stretching out his hand towards the money, when Marcel stopped him again.

“You will not refuse another glass?” said he, pouring one out.

The landlord did not refuse. He drank the second glass, and was once more attempting to possess himself of the money, when Marcel called out:

“Stop! I have an idea. I am rather rich just now, for me. My uncle in Burgundy has sent me something over my usual allowance. Now I may spend this money too fast. Youth has so many temptations, you know. Therefore, if it is all the same to you, I will pay a quarter in advance.” He took sixty francs in silver and added them to the three louis which were on the table.

“Then I will give you a receipt for the present quarter,” said the landlord. “I have some blank ones in my pocket-book. I will fill it up and date it ahead. After all,” thought he, devouring the hundred and twenty francs with his eyes, “this tenant is not so bad.”

Meanwhile, the other three Bohemians, not understanding Marcel’s diplomacy, remained utterly stupefied.