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Updated: July 19, 2025
"Good Heavens!" said he, with an air of great innocence, "who could have thought it, and the lodgers constantly running away. Four thousand? Well, then, you shall have four thousand." Monsieur Bonelle shut his eyes once more, and murmured "The mere rental nonsense!" He then folded his hands on his breast, and appeared to compose himself to sleep. "Oh, what a sharp man of business he is!"
The last accounts of the victim of Excellent Opportunities represent him as being gradually worn down with disappointment. There seems every probability of his being the first to leave the world; for Bonelle is heartier than ever. There is an old yew tree which stands by the wall in a dark quiet corner of the churchyard.
"Well, then, what do you say to three thousand?" Monsieur Bonelle opened his eyes. "Ramin," said he, sententiously, "you are a fool; the house brings me in four thousand as it is." This was quite false, and the mercer knew it; but he had his own reasons for wishing to seem to believe it true.
I knew you were after something. Will you give eighty thousand francs for it?" abruptly asked Monsieur Bonelle. "Eighty thousand francs!" echoed Ramin. "Do you take me for Louis Philippe or the Bank of France!" "Then we'll say no more about it are you not afraid of leaving your shop so long?" Ramin returned to the charge, heedless of the hint to depart.
Monsieur Ramin heard Catharine with great attention, forgot to finish his soup, and remained for five minutes in profound rumination, without so much as perceiving two customers who had entered the shop and were waiting to be served. When aroused, he was heard to exclaim: "What an excellent opportunity!" Monsieur Bonelle had been Ramin's predecessor.
At the same time he had tact enough to render his presence agreeable. He knew that his coarse and boisterous wit had often delighted Monsieur Bonelle of old, and he now exerted himself so successfully as to betray the old man two or three times into hearty laughter.
I am a quiet, easy person, indifferent to money; otherwise this house would now bring me in eight thousand at the very least." "Eight thousand!" indignantly exclaimed the mercer. "Monsieur Bonelle, you have no conscience. Come now, my dear friend, do be reasonable. Come, be reasonable." But Monsieur Bonelle turned a deaf ear to reason, and closed his eyes once more.
With this Bonelle opened his door, shut it, and disappeared. Ramin was transfixed on the stairs; petrified with intense disappointment, and a powerful sense of having been duped. When he was discovered, he stared vacantly, and raved about an Excellent Opportunity of taking his revenge.
The mercer left Monsieur Bonelle in the act of protesting that he felt as strong as a man of forty. Monsieur Ramin felt in no hurry to conclude the proposed agreement. "The later one begins to pay, the better," he said, as he descended the stairs. Days passed on, and the negotiation made no way. It struck the observant tradesman that all was not right.
"They have persuaded you that I am dying. Stuff! I shall bury you yet." The mercer glanced at the thin fragile frame, and exclaimed to himself, "Deluded old gentleman!" "My dear Bonelle," he continued, aloud, "I know well the strength of your admirable constitution: but allow me to observe that you neglect yourself too much. Now, suppose a good sensible doctor "
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