“Yes, indeed; everybody plays low in these days.”

“I hope they won’t cut down our poor wages.”

“I’m afraid they will.  The Chambers are prying into everything.  Why, they even count the sticks of wood.”

“Well, it can’t last long if they go on that way.”

“Hush, we’re caught! somebody is listening.”

“Hey! it is the late Monsieur Rabourdin.  Ah, monsieur, I knew your step.  If you have business to transact here I am afraid you will not find any one who is aware of the respect that ought to be paid to you; Laurent and I are the only persons remaining about the place who were here in your day.  Messieurs Colleville and Baudoyer didn’t wear out the morocco of the chairs after you left.  Heavens, no! six months later they were made Collectors of Paris.”

* * * * *

Note.—­Anagrams cannot, of course, be translated; that is why three English ones have been substituted for some in French. [Tr.]

ADDENDUM

The following personages appear in other stories of the Human Comedy.

Baudoyer, Isidore
  The Middle Classes
  Cousin Pons

Bianchon, Horace
  Father Goriot
  The Atheist’s Mass
  Cesar Birotteau
  The Commission in Lunacy
  Lost Illusions
  A Distinguished Provincial at Paris
  A Bachelor’s Establishment
  The Secrets of a Princess
  Pierrette
  A Study of Woman
  Scenes from a Courtesan’s Life
  Honorine
  The Seamy Side of History
  The Magic Skin
  A Second Home
  A Prince of Bohemia
  Letters of Two Brides
  The Muse of the Department
  The Imaginary Mistress
  The Middle Classes
  Cousin Betty
  The Country Parson
In addition, M. Bianchon narrated the following: 
  Another Study of Woman
  La Grande Breteche

Bidault (known as Gigonnet)
  Gobseck
  The Vendetta
  Cesar Birotteau
  The Firm of Nucingen
  A Daughter of Eve

Bixiou, Jean-Jacques
  The Purse
  A Bachelor’s Establishment
  Modeste Mignon
  Scenes from a Courtesan’s Life
  The Firm of Nucingen
  The Muse of the Department
  Cousin Betty
  The Member for Arcis
  Beatrix
  A Man of Business
  Gaudissart II. 
  The Unconscious Humorists
  Cousin Pons

Brezacs (The)
  The Country Parson

Bruel, Jean Francois du
  A Bachelor’s Establishment
  A Start in Life
  A Prince of Bohemia
  The Middle Classes
  A Distinguished Provincial at Paris
  A Daughter of Eve

Camps, Madame Octave de
  Madame Firmiani
  A Woman of Thirty
  A Daughter of Eve
  The Member for Arcis

Chaboisseau
  A Distinguished Provincial at Paris
  A Man of Business

Chatelet, Marie-Louise-Anais de Negrepelisse, Baronne du
  Lost Illusions
  A Distinguished Provincial at Paris