As he was paying him beforehand, the porter noticed a gold coin in the painter's hand, and before starting on his errand went up to inform the landlord, with whom Marcel was behind with his rent.
"Sir," said he, quite out of breath, "the artist on the sixth floor has money.

You know the tall fellow who laughs in my face when I take him his bill ?" "Yes," said the landlord, "the one who had the imprudence to borrow money of me to pay me something on account with.

He is under notice to quit." "Yes sir.

But he is rolling in gold today.

I caught sight of it just now.