Hand over two hundred and fifty francs, and they are yours." "But my dad will only give two hundred," returned the other.
"Then he don't need give nothing, for he won't get 'em," answered the chestnut vender sharply.

"Two hundred francs for a pitch like this! Why, I have sometimes taken ten francs and more, and that ain't a lie, on the word of Toto Chupin." Andre was tickled with this strange designation, and addressed himself to the lad who bore it.
"My good boy," said he, "I think you were here an hour ago.

Did you see anything of three gentlemen who came out of the house and stood talking together for a short time ?" The lad turned sharply round and examined his questioner from tip to toe with an air of the most supreme impertinence; and then, in a tone which matched his look, replied,-- "What does it signify to you who they are?
Mind your own business, and be off!" Andre had had some little experience of this delightful class of street arab, of which Toto Chupin was so favorable a specimen, and knew their habits, customs, and language.
"Come, my chicken," said he, "spit it out, it won't blister your tongue, to answer a man who asks a civil question." "Well, then, I saw 'em, sharp enough, and what then ?" "Why, that I should like to have their names if they have such an article belonging to 'em!" Toto raised his cap and scratched his head, as if to stimulate his brains, and as he brushed up his thick head of dirty yellow hair, he eyed Andre cunningly.
"And suppose I know the blokes' names and tells 'em out to you, what will you stand ?" asked he.
"Ten sous." The delightful youth puffed out his cheeks, then expelled the pent-up wind by a sudden slap, as a mark of his disgust at the meanness of the offer.
"Pull up your braces, my lord," said he sarcastically, "or you'll be losing the contents of your breeches pockets.

Ten sous, indeed! Perhaps you'd like me to lend 'em to yer ?" Andre smiled pleasantly.
"Did you think, my little man, that I was going to offer you twenty thousand shiners ?" asked he.
"Won again!" cried Toto; "I laid myself a new hat that you weren't a fool, and I have collared the stakes." "Why do you think I am not a fool ?" "Because a fool would have begun by offering me five francs and gone up slick to ten, while you began at a modest figure." The painter smiled.
"But you were too old a bird to be caught like that," continued the lad; and as he spoke, he stopped, and contracted his brow as if in deep perplexity.

Of course he was acquainted with the names, but ought he to give them?
Instantly he scented an enemy.