I have hired a room in the sixth story of this house, and am beginning to be tired of waiting for my lodging to become vacant." "I am very sorry indeed," replied Monsieur Bernard, "there has been a little difficulty with one of my tenants, the one whom you are to replace." "Sir," cried old Durand from a window at the very top of the house, "Monsieur Schaunard is not here, but his room--stupid!--I mean he has carried nothing away, not a hair, sir!" "Very well, come down," replied the landlord.

"Have a little patience, I beg of you," he continued to the young man.

"My porter will bring down to the cellar the furniture in the room of my defaulting tenant, and you may take possession in half an hour.

Beside, your furniture has not come yet." "But it has," answered the young man quietly.
Monsieur Bernard looked around, and saw only the large screens which had already mystified his porter.
"How is this ?" he muttered.

"I don't see anything." "Behold!" replied the youth, unfolding the leaves of the frame, and displaying to the view of the astonished landlord a magnificent interior of a palace, with jasper columns, bas-reliefs, and paintings of old masters.
"But your furniture ?" demanded Monsieur Bernard.
"Here it is," replied the young man, pointing to the splendid furniture _painted_ in the palace, which he had bought at a sale of second-hand theatrical decorations.
"I hope you have some more serious furniture than this," said the landlord.