"One hundred thousand francs!" I exclaimed, dazzled at such a prospect, "you cannot mean it."
"It is precisely because I mean it that I tell you, and repeat it again: you will clear one hundred thousand francs by your trip. Add to this, the advantage of having seen a splendid country, and being received with all the attention due to an artist of your merit. You will then return to your impatient spectators, whose curiosity, heightened by their long privation, will produce you receipts far more brilliant than any you might have expected by remaining in Paris."
Being little conversant at that period with theatrical matters, and having no reason to doubt the honesty of my eloquent "humbugger," I easily believed his fine promises. The chink of one hundred thousand francs still ringing in my ears fascinated me; and I gave way unconsciously to the same mode of reasoning the inkstand inventor had employed.
"And, really," I said to myself, "supposing, for instance, that----" And, leaping from supposition to supposition, my calculations exceeded those of the agent. But, in order to be reasonable, I concluded, like my friend the inventor, in this way: "Well, to prevent any misunderstanding, suppose we say only fifty thousand francs--surely nobody can accuse me with exaggeration."
Though dazzled by this brilliant calculation, I strove to conceal my desire of accepting the offer.
"It is all very well," I said, in my turn, after the style of a perfect man of business, "but what are the conditions?"
"Oh, most simple!" the crafty fellow said; "the same as are made with all distinguished artists. Monsieur X---- will pay all the expenses, but to cover those, he will deduct three hundred francs from the gross receipts, exclusive of the claim of the poor, and the rest will be fairly divided between him and yourself."
"Still, I should like to know how much the sum to be divided will amount to?"
"How is it possible to say?" the agent exclaimed, with an aspect of the greatest sincerity. "With such success as awaits you, it will be enormous."
In spite of my pressing, the agent always entrenched himself in his exclamations, and the impossibility of making such an estimate. Tired of the struggle, I at length formed my decision.