human
You will bring it to me at the Maison-Dorée, where I dine to-night. I dine at the Maison-Dorée; it is my favorite restaurant. You will ask the waiter for Monsieur Tobie Pigeonnier. I am very well known at the Maison-Dorée.
gpt
I understand, monsieur.
human
One moment, Paul; that is not all. If by any chance--for we must provide for everything--if Madame Abraham should not give you any money for me--merchants are sometimes a little short--if, I say, Madame Abraham should give you nothing for me, then, and only then, you will go to the house where I live, on Rue de la Ferme-des-Mathurins--the address is on this other letter, and you know how to read. You will go there and give this letter to my concierge, Madame Pluchonneau,--the name is on the envelope,--and tell her you will wait for an answer. You may be obliged to wait some time, for I have told my concierge to do an errand for me. But you will wait in her lodge, she has a very fine lodge. Then my concierge, when she returns, will hand you some money, which you will bring to the Maison-Dorée.
gpt
Very good, monsieur.
human
You are sure that you understand, messenger? If you receive money from Madame Abraham, who will doubtless hand you with it a memorandum of the amount, then it will not be necessary to go to my house, and you will bring back the letter for Madame Pluchonneau. But if you get nothing at the Temple, then go to Rue de la Ferme-des-Mathurins.
gpt
I understand perfectly, monsieur.
human
Off with you, young Paul! You can send word to me by the waiter; don't give me my answer before those other gentlemen. Secrecy, above all things!
gpt
Very good, monsieur.
human
Go! I will give you a handsome _pourboire._
gpt
Come on! What a long while it takes you to send a message to your charmers!
human
Here I am, messieurs. Oh! a man has to show some consideration. Let us be fickle, if you will, but we must not forget to be gallant; that is my nature.
gpt
Paid in advance! a cart-wheel! what do you think of that! There's a generous young man for you! I would fight for him.
human
But you probably have got to go a long way for him,
gpt
Oh, no! nothing at all. First to Rue Neuve-Vivienne--only two steps; then to his house on Rue Caumartin, and from there to the Maison-Dorée. It's all right in the quarter.
human
I have got to go much farther than that--Faubourg Saint-Honoré--and I ain't paid in advance.
gpt
And I, too, said Paul, placing his _crochets_ behind a porte cochère,
human
Where are you going?
gpt
The gentleman who employed me told me not to talk; so it doesn't seem to me that I ought to tell where he sends me.
human
Bah! you sneak!
gpt
Well, my friends, said Sans-Cravate, as he donned his fur cap,
human
It does me, replied Jean Ficelle;
gpt
I can't, said Paul;
human
I have business this evening; I must go to see a certain person, a long way from here, and----
gpt
Nonsense, Paul! I won't listen to such reasons as that; you can attend to your business to-morrow. I want you to have supper with us. I've invited you two or three times, and you always refuse. _Crédié!_ if you don't come to-night, I shall think you're proud, and afraid of lowering yourself by sitting at the same table with me.
human
Proud! proud of what, for God's sake?
gpt
Oh! Sans-Cravate, you surely can't think that I am proud. Am I not a messenger, like you?
human
Very well, then; you'll come, that's settled. I must be off and do my errands. By the way, friends, if one of you sees Bastringuette before I do, just tell her where we sup. If we should feast without her, I should be a dead man to-morrow.
gpt
To be afraid that a woman will scold you, and not dare to treat yourself without her! that must be pleasant, on my word! And he calls himself a man! I call him a milksop. The real men aren't those who strike the hardest--but the sly dogs who know how to make dupes.