It had cost him a good deal to begin housekeeping: all his savings.

It was still four months before the inventory.

Where was he to obtain the 30,000 francs to be paid down at once for the theatre?
And then, beyond all that, the affair could not be successful.
"Why, it must succeed.

Bibi will be there!" As he spoke, poor Bibi drew himself up to his full height; but Risler was determined, and all Bibi's arguments met the same refusal--"Later, in two or three years, I don't say something may not be done." The actor fought for a long time, yielding his ground inch by inch.

He proposed revising his estimates.