"I'm listening." "You told me that you didn't understand why I had sent for you." "That's what I said." "Still, you must have suspected that I had an object ?" "Every man has an object, good or bad, according to our priest," observed Antoine, sententiously.
"Well, my friend," resumed Montbar, "mine is to make my way by night, without being recognized, into the courtyard of Master Nicolas-Denis Lollier, postmaster at Belleville." "At Belleville," repeated Antoine, who had followed Montbar's words with all the attention he was capable of.

"You wish to make your way by night, without being recognized, into the courtyard of Master Nicolas-Denis Lollier, postmaster at Belleville, in order to see the beautiful Josephine?
Ah, ha! my sly dog!" "You have it, my dear Antoine; and I wish to get in without being recognized, because Father Lollier has discovered everything, and has forbidden his daughter to see me." "You don't say so.

Well, what can I do about it ?" "Your wits are still muddled, Antoine.

Drink another glass of wine to brighten them up." "Right you are," exclaimed Antoine.
And he swallowed his sixth glass of wine.
"You ask what you can do, Antoine ?" "Yes, what can I do?
That's what I ask." "Everything, my friend." "I ?" "You." "Ha! I'm curious to know what.

Clear it up, clear it up!" And he held out his glass.
"You drive the mail to Chambery to-morrow, don't you ?" "Yes; at six o'clock." "Well, suppose that Antoine is a good fellow ?" "No supposing about it; he is!" "Well, this is what Antoine does--" "Go on; what does he do ?" "In the first place, he empties his glass." "Done! that's not difficult." "Then he takes these ten louis." Montbar spread ten louis on the table.
"Ah, ha!" exclaimed Antoine, "yellow boys, real ones.