human
What does this mean? cried Dodichet;
gpt
Because I am leaving this house.
human
Why, pray?
gpt
Because I'm afraid I shall be found here. There's your friend, that stout man, who presumed to call me Seringat last night before a whole roomful! I am very angry, monsieur! It was a mean trick that you played on me, to take me to a house where I might meet a man who knew me at Pontoise! I don't propose to lend you money so that you can treat me in such a way as that!
human
Allow me to observe, my dear friend, that at this moment you are talking like a goose! And I will prove to you in a few words that you have no common sense. I borrow money of you--which I will return, by the way, when I inherit from my aunt, you may be sure.
gpt
Very well; I don't care about that; I'm in no hurry.
human
Now, my reason for having recourse to your purse of late is that I am rather short, that I need your help. You lend me money, not to oblige me, I know that perfectly well, but because you're afraid that I will divulge what you are so anxious to conceal.
gpt
Yes, monsieur; that's the only reason--it's not from friendship at all.
human
Thanks; I appreciate that token of affection! But if I brought you face to face with someone who had known you at Pontoise, that is to say, who might disclose--what concerns you, why, it would be all over; you wouldn't lend me any more money, because everything would be known!--So you see that it is altogether against my interest that anyone should recognize you. This Dubotté came to Mirotaine's--a most miraculous thing; for he had always refused to go there, because they give their guests cocoa for refreshments--he said so himself in my presence. So it was simply an unlucky chance that he came there last night. Moreover, I had no idea that Dubotté had ever known you at Pontoise; but luckily it was before your--your event; he knows nothing about that.
gpt
My word! if he'd mentioned that, I should have done some crazy thing!
human
I don't know what you'd have done; but you see that I could not have anticipated that meeting. Come, my little Seringat, you're not angry with me any more, are you?
gpt
Oh! don't call me Seringat--I don't want to be Seringat again!
human
To be sure--you are Miflorès. All right! My dear friend, I shall be obliged to resort to your purse once more. I am going to make my début at the Quimper-Corentin theatre, in _Joconde_, nothing less! And I must have a costume for the rôle, a rich and elegant costume; Joconde is Count Robert's friend, you know?
gpt
No, I don't know that play.
human
I will reply in the words of Monsieur Prudhomme, in _La Famille Improvisée_: 'You would be wrong if you could.'--How much do I owe you now?
gpt
Two thousand francs, which I have lent you at four different times.
human
That's right--five hundred francs each time; well, lend me a thousand at once to-day. Then I shall owe you three thousand. But my old aunt can't last much longer; and then, too, I am going to make a great success on the stage, and tenors are paid fabulous prices now! I can easily pay you three thousand francs, when I am earning fifty thousand a year.
gpt
This is for keeping my secret!
human
Thanks, my dear friend; you have unpleasant moments, but some very agreeable quarter-hours. Will you come to Quimper to see my début?
gpt
No, I don't want to leave Paris; one can lose one's self better here, in the crowd. I have discovered a small hotel, at the rear of a courtyard, at the farther end of Rue Saint-Jacques, and I am going to take refuge there.
human
Very good; but as it is essential that I should always be able to find you, if only to repay what I owe you, I think I will accompany you to your small hotel at the rear of a courtyard--for it must be rather hard to find, courtyards ordinarily being behind the hotel. Then I will bid you farewell, and start for Bretagne to gather laurels and yellow-boys.