certain shares in the mines at Wortschin, which as yet pay no
dividends; and it is hard at their age to live on hope."

"How do they live, then?"

"They do me the great pleasure of accepting my salary."

"Right, right, Anselme!" said the perfumer, as a tear rolled down his
cheek. "You are worthy of the regard I feel for you. You are about to
receive a great recompense for your fidelity to my interests."

As he said these words the worthy man swelled in his own eyes as much
as he did in those of Popinot, and he uttered them with a plebeian and
naive emphasis which was the genuine expression of his counterfeit
superiority.

"Ah, monsieur! have you guessed my love for--"

"For whom?" asked his master.

"For Mademoiselle Cesarine."

"Ah, boy, you are bold indeed!" exclaimed Birotteau. "Keep your
secret. I promise to forget it. You leave my house to-morrow. I am not
angry with you; in your place--the devil! the devil!--I should have
done the same. She is so lovely!"

"Oh, monsieur!" said the clerk, who felt his shirt getting wet with
perspiration.