So fifty francs per day for a prince of the blood, thirty-six for a marechal of France--" "But you have as many marechals of France, I suppose, as you have princes of the blood ?" "Alas! no more.

It is true lieutenant-generals and brigadiers pay twenty-six francs, and I have two of them.

After that, come councilors of parliament, who bring me fifteen francs, and I have six of them." "I did not know," said Aramis, "that councilors were so productive." "Yes; but from fifteen francs I sink at once to ten francs; namely, for an ordinary judge, and for an ecclesiastic." "And you have seven, you say; an excellent affair." "Nay, a bad one, and for this reason.

How can I possibly treat these poor fellows, who are of some good, at all events, otherwise than as a councilor of parliament ?" "Yes, you are right; I do not see five francs difference between them." "You understand; if I have a fine fish, I pay four or five francs for it; if I get a fine fowl, it cost me a franc and a half.

I fatten a good deal of poultry, but I have to buy grain, and you cannot imagine the army of rats that infest this place." "Why not get half a dozen cats to deal with them ?" "Cats, indeed; yes, they eat them, but I was obliged to give up the idea because of the way in which they treated my grain.