It is not exactly serious art.

But then the Englishman pays me two hundred francs a month for my noise; it would be cutting one's throat to refuse such a windfall.

I accepted, and in two or three days I take my first month's money." It was after those mutual confidences that the three friends agreed amongst themselves to profit by the general accession of wealth to give their mistresses the spring outfit that the coquetry of each of them had been wishing for so long.

It was further agreed that whoever pocketed his money first should wait for the others, so that the purchases should be made at the same time, and that Mademoiselle Mimi, Musette, and Phemie should enjoy the pleasure of casting their old skins, as Schaunard put it, together.
Well, two or three days after this council Rodolphe came in first; his dental poem had been paid for; it weighed in eighty francs.

The next day Marcel drew from Medicis the price of eighteen corporal's likenesses, at six francs each.
Marcel and Rodolphe had all the difficulty in the world to hide their good fortune.
"It seems to me that I sweat gold," said the poet.
"It is the same with me," said Marcel.