"Hum! feel my pulse then," he said jestingly, "but put your hand, not on my pulse, but in my pocket." "There is no necessity for that.

Let us consider the symptoms.

Are you not suffering a slight indigestion in consequence of an undigested debt of some three hundred thousand francs or so ?" "You know I do.

Give my creditors something to go away with." "But that would be hard on the poor fellows.

You would not choke off your upholsterers, your coach-makers, and your horse-dealers because you can't pay them, I suppose?
Would it not be juster to pay them up in full ?" "How can I ?" cried Abellino, furiously.