To sell a whole bottle of brandy at five times its value, is to Monsieur le Proprietaire more agreeable than to offer him rent for the hire of his room.

He is outside all the things in which we are concerned.

He believes--pardon me, monsieur--that we are engaged in a little smuggling transaction.
Monsieur Roche and I have used this place frequently." "He can believe what he likes," Hunterleys replied, "so long as he keeps his mouth shut." The brandy was brought--and three glasses.

Frenhofer promptly took the hint and, filling one to the brim, held it out to the landlord.
"You will drink our health, Pere Hanaut--my health and the health of monsieur here, and the health of the fair Annette.

Incidentally, you will drink also to the success of the little scheme which monsieur and I are planning." "In such brandy," the proprietor declared hoarsely, "I would drink to the devil himself!" He threw back his head and the contents of his glass vanished.