"The Metamorphosis of Woodlice" "Apache !" "Quiet !" "Let me sum up: two full bottles, a pressure regulator and a twenty meter hose for three thousand francs !" "With which I can guarantee three hours of work at three thousand degrees." "You sum up, you guarantee..." "A nice piece of work you are." "First, a man in my league never needed three hours to unlock a peter." "Second, given the monster I'm about to tackle, three thousand degrees is barely lukewarm." "I dare say I hoped to find more than mundane junk in your place." "What would you like ?" "The works of Arsène Lupin in twelve volumes ?" "A green flash ?" "A magic wand ?" "The new gazified nitrogen blow torch !" "Could you mean this, by any chance, gentleman ?" "I'll be damned." "Happy to hear that." "But this is not the tool of just anyone, for the price of just anything." "This is one million !" "Fuel not included." "I'll be bloody damned !" "You're repeating yourself somewhat." "Don't get me wrong, Gertrude." "If I had begun my career with stuff like this," "Onassis and I would talk as equal powers." "Unfortunately, I'm no beginner." "On the contrary, I'm on the verge of hanging up." "That's funny, I heard that you already did." "That you became a pimp, living off ladies." "Aren't you happy with it ?" "Let's say I'm doing a lap of honour." "And pray, what's your folly ?" "A Winter-Winter 53." "Ain't you afraid of setting your sights a bit high ?" "A Winter-Winter crammed to the point of breaking apart." "Owned by clowns trusting enough to cancel the burglar alarm." "Oh, oh, provocation !" "But achtung, kid !" "A Winter-Winter is something special." "Molybdenum and titanium." "An infernal alloy !" "A devilry !" "H. Cusin – Stockbroker" "Here, between the fifth and the sixth struts, are you tailing me ?" " Yeah." "You've got twenty centimetres where you can pass, not a hair more." "Just on the edge of the back pulling rack rails, between the two electrodes." "Are you tailing me ?" "Yes, but there's a hitch." "I don't have a million." "Too bad:" "I'd have owned the tool I deserve." "How long would you need it ?" "One hour to get there, one hour on the job, one hour to come back." "That's three hours." "I'll do you a favour." "Three thousand an hour, fuel included." "That's nine hundred thousands !" "Where do you want me to find them ?" "Wherever you want !" "Go beg in the street !" "Organize a raffle !" "Take out a loan !" "Good morning, Mr. Clancul." "Is Edmond home ?" "Oh, no, young man, Edmond is not home." "Edmond is more and more always never home." "A small drink between Pigalle and Blanche, then he migrates to the Drugstore bar." "What do you want him for ?" "I thought I'd buy him lunch." "Well, if you want to partake in our humble food." "From what plant do we get our nourishment today, Granny ?" "Today, we're being a little naughty:" "Soya beans with algae, rice, and mespilus jam." "No, you're very nice, but somebody's waiting for me." "Don't you think fasting and contemplation are somewhat keeping Edmond away ?" "Work is keeping him away, mostly." "To think that the bastard was really gifted !" "He could shape the curves of a shoe like no one could." "He had the magic touch." "But no focus." "He never had a very well-structured mind." "He doesn't overcome appearances." "Oh ?" "Oh, here you are at last !" "I just checked the warehouse:" "no Rouquemoute." "His hotel ?" "No Rouquemoute." "I was left kicking my heels for one hour there." "I'd like to talk to you." " We must." "Did you see the ugly man ?" "I say:" "I'd really like to know what you're hunting a client or Prince Charming ?" "Cause if you're waiting for Gregory Peck to pass through you're not about to get some." "What's got into you, mister Arthur ?" "Where is he ?" " Who ?" "The Rouquemoute." "Men never tell where they're going or where they're coming from." "They're full of secrets." "Look, miss, we didn't interrupt your activities to hear your philosophy of life, as brilliant as your ideas might be." "My friend asked where Rouquemoute is." "Either you tell him or I start with a few kicks and end the job with a razor." "Oh ?" " Yes." "Well." "A real nice chap, your friend is." "Rouquemoute came by less than twenty minutes ago." "He said he had a terrible morning and was going to nibble on something before lunch." "But where..." "Right." "I'll see you one of these days." "What did he mean, a terrible morning ?" "Oh, don't buzz, you're going to suffer an adrenalin rush." "You'll grant me that the faggot deserves a few slaps in the face." "He chooses the time of the rendez-vous, he's supposed to bring the hardware, then he evaporates." "See, there was no need to get excited." "It's about time !" "It's the best cake shop in Europe." "Tell him we don't give a damn." "I've got a major problem, chaps !" "We tell you we don't give a damn." "The caper is off." " What ?" "Let him talk." "We don't have a torch anymore." "Maybe you could have told us before ?" "In order to tell, one has to know." "I held the miracle blow torch in my mitts." "I thought a friend was handing it to me." "I don't even dare to tell you the price." "Three million." " What ?" "There are no more friends." "There are only gluttons." "Blackmailers." "Or the tender type, like yours truly." "Didn't I tell you he deserves a slap on his nose ?" "Should a lady do to me what Gertrude did to you," "I'd off her in a sec." "Gee, and what else ?" "You're really full of vim, ain't you ?" "We're talking for nothing anyway." "It was a beautiful dream, that's all." "No." " What, no ?" "I do not dream, I think !" "What's new since yesterday ?" "The dough is still in the safe, the safe in the same place, the car park is under pressure." "What we lack is the gentleman's blow torch." "Well, I say such a blow torch can be found." "Yes it can." "With three million." "I know a bloke who's got the three million." "Getty ?" " A guy you know." "A guy I know would lend us three million ?" "You amaze me." "Alphonse." " I know fifty Alphonse." ""Clever" Alphonse." "How much do you think there is in the peter ?" "According to the accountant who's friends with the wife of my nephew's mate, there should be between twelve and twenty million." "Closer to twelve." "Divided by four, that's three millions each." "A guy like Alphonse will think it's either a tip or a joke." "Either he laughs or he thumps." "There's a way of telling things." "Why didn't you bring me here before." "I was afraid you wouldn't like it." "There's a very motley clientele." "Hi, Alphonse." " Hi." "Good evening, Alphonse." " Evening..." "Tomorrow, the races in Auteuil could be fun." "Just give us a call." "OK." "What's so funny ?" " Your friends." "Oh, friends..." "Just blokes I saw once or twice." "A gentleman would like to talk to you, mister Maréchal." "A mister Edmont." "Tell him to come." "Who is this mister Edmont ?" "A former college mate of mine." "Am I intruding ?" " Yes." "Edmont, of whom I talked to you." "A friend." " Charmed." "Take a seat." "Did you have dinner ?" "No, but I'm not hungry." "I don't want anything anymore." "No." "Maybe a few oysters, just to keep you company." "What are you eating ?" " Clams." "A dozen clams and a dozen Belon oysters then." "And a glass." "Well, it may be the solution." "I've got to talk to you." "You might lose me." "What's your trouble ?" " I may die in the next 24 hours." "Did a doctor tell you that ?" " No, Frédo the Greek did." "You know that I sometimes play cards at the Astronauts Club." "I haven't been dealt three of a kind in five weeks." "First they gobbled my savings, then Frédo gave me some credit." "The bastard." "As a result, I owe ten million." "Nice." "But just for the record, what do you think I can do about it ?" "When you want, you can do anything." "Of course I can." "If I understand correctly, I only have to come to the Club at 6 a. m., fiddle with the safe and take back your IOUs." "In the last ten years, I knew two blokes who tried to double-cross the Greek the first one was found in the Lourques Canal, and the second one inside a trunk, in a luggage locker at the Gare Saint-Lazare." "You're getting excited over nothing." "I never asked you to double-cross the Greek." "I see I was wrong to come here." "I'm bothering you." "Excuse me." "I wouldn't have bothered you or madam if it weren't a question of life and death." "How long have we known each other ?" "Too long." "Alright." "Let's finish dinner," "I'll drive Elizabeth home then you'll tell me about your misfortunes." "Look, Edmont, I like you, but if you believe that Rouquemoute is able to force a Winter-Winter, let me tell you you're bullshitting big time !" "As for Arthur, I'd rather not talk about him: it would give me the hives." "The caper is a cinch, I tell you." "We've been planning it for months." "We just need to give it a push." "Sure." "Well, you'll push without me." "Say !" "Now that it's forgotten, you can tell me:" "how much was your monkey business supposed to yield ?" "One hundred million." "I've got to admit it's quite a sum." "Divided by four, that's twenty-five million each." "And with twenty-five million..." "Except that with Rouquemoute as skipper and Arthur in charge of the brakes, we won't see the hundred million anytime soon." "On the other hand, let's not look the other way:" "when you enjoy being cosy, the dough runs away like mad." "Tailor, rent, cards playing..." "We're surrounded with robbers." "And that's without counting the ladies." "If I go on stepping over them at the Claridge and feeding them at Lasserre's..." "Twenty-five million..." "And saving Edmont's life as a bonus." "Although a quartet is great when you're in a band, but for a caper, isn't it too much ?" "Now that you said yes," "I know it's in the bag !" "The pretty notes are already here." "I said yes, I said yes..." "I said "we'll see"." "You'll agree that a Winter-Winter won't open like a can of tuna ?" "lonized nitrogen or nothing." "Only one person can supply such a blow torch." "Gertrude !" "Well, the old octopus wants three million for it." "I left her a deposit." "My last thousand francs." "But I..." "Do you expect somebody ?" " No." "No one." "Sir..." "With your permission..." "Why are you here at this time of day ?" "Make up your mind, will you !" "It takes more than two hours to cook a pot-au-feu." "And first I must peel..." "Have you sworn to send me to the loony bin ?" "Don't you think I've got enough trouble as it is ?" "Quitting your job at noon, which is the bloody rush hour !" "You want me dead, don't you !" "Admit it !" "Say, whenever you're done with your cleaning, we can resume." "Excuse me, but I can't stand laziness." "If only you knew how I long to dump her." "To be able to afford it." "Oh, God, somebody give me the fucking peter !" "I'm asking for it on my knees !" "Here, here, can you see where I attack it ?" "Between the fifth and the sixth struts, just on the edge of the back pulling rack rails." "With only one hand and my eyes closed !" "Once to the right, once to the left, and I'm in." "Admittedly, by a margin of just one millimetre." "But I'm in." "Which is the main point." "But I'm just a labourer, a good specialist, nothing more." "For everything else, you'll be at the helm." "You'll be the boss." "Can you believe I never saw things differently ?" "Does it bother you to take it outdoors ?" "I liked it." "And one should never sell daubs !" "What with a trickling stock market, the striking forces and the Congolese fury, their value increases everyday." "How much do you think you'll get for it ?" "Three or four million." "It's worth ten." "Tonton always gives half the price, except that, since I'm in a hurry, he'll give one third." "Would you like me to talk up this faggot's nose ?" "No, you'll stay here !" "Tonton is the shy type and new faces tend to make him... tense." "Tonton !" "Tonton !" "Are you in, you old rascal ?" "Here I am !" "Oh, it's you." "Couldn't you give me a call ?" "I was around." " What's under your arm ?" "A crawfish in blue cheese sauce." "Oh, no, don't tell me it's another Braque !" "No, no, no !" "Braques !" "Matisses !" "Utrillos !" "I don't know where to stock them anymore." "I'm stepping on them." "What about selling one of them, once in a while ?" "To whom ?" "That's your job." "In any case, you'll have to pay cash for this one." "Off, if you want to do it the knife-under-the-throat way," "I don't even want to see your crawfish !" "Come on, Phonphonse, you know I like you, but you must understand:" "it's tougher to fence goods than to pinch them." "One needs acquaintances, connections..." "To steal !" "A mere reflex action." "Speaking of reflexes, what would you say to a punch in the kisser ?" "Oh, no!" "See ?" "You're doing it again." "Don't touch me !" "I don't want to work with violent types anymore." "I don't want anything to do with bullies..." "I'm too old and weak for that." "Are you finished with your act ?" "Can we chat ?" "If you want to." "I bet it's the blue period again." "I told you so." "Oh, that's it, here is that period again !" "Oh no !" "I can feel it coming like this !" "The bitch !" "Impossible to sell !" "And always falling on my shoulders !" "You've got to admit it's beautiful." "But it's blue !" "Impossible to sell." "You already said that about the Matisses and the Dufys." "What can be sold, according to you ?" "Nothing." " What do you mean, nothing ?" "Nothing." "Didn't you see the last auction in Galiéra ?" "It yielded big money !" "I'm not saying there are no fortunes anymore, but I'm not exhibiting my stuff." "I deal only with perverts." "Can you picture me bursting in Edmond de Rothschild's place and offer to sell him the Mona Lisa without an invoice ?" "You know the score better than that." "Scores are one thing, paintings are another." "I want ten million, and not a penny less." "Let's say seven." " Two and a half, to oblige you." "Six." " Four." "I knew I would end up cheated." "You see ?" "First he goes to the broker's." "Then to the funeral home." "It's in the back." "Before they rearranged the building, a door opened on the funeral home," "When the broker moved in, they blocked it with sheetrock." "Including the time we need for loading and to get away:" "twenty-three minutes." "You're spoiling me." "Three years ago, at the Condor insurance company," "I forced the safe in twelve minutes, twenty-seven seconds, four tenths." "Today is not yesterday, if you don't mind." "Colombes is not Tokyo." "I believe in the timing when the actor's on stage !" "Maybe we could bring a trolley, should the safe prove stubborn." "We'd take it away and unlock it here." "Now, can you hear him ?" "What are we, Edmont ?" "Burglars or movers ?" "When I go and fetch cash, I come back with cash, period !" "In the meantime, why not give a hand ?" "Say !" "Did you see what Rouquemoute carries in his belt ?" "Open your coat." "Do you think you're in a bad boys movie ?" "I guess you also have your papers on you ?" "I want all this to disappear:" "during my jobs, everybody must be anonymous." "It feels unreal." "To go on a job with such blunderers." "And all because of Edmont." "We met in elementary school." "Nothing is more dangerous for kids, than school." "Are you coming or not ?" "Turn off the bloody lights !" "The bottle, there !" "Hey, wait for me." "Hey !" "Here it is." "Isn't it beautiful ?" "Oh, you know, I don't care much for appearances." "God !" "That's really something !" "You've been saying that for thirty minutes." "You were supposed to open it using only one hand and with your eyes closed." "They must have modified the alloy" "Talk about chemical engineers !" "Never at a loss to invent pains in the arse !" "Are you finished already ?" " Don't bug me." "Don't move." "Hands up !" "Stop !" "Stop it !" "Stay put." "I'll go and see." "Trouble ?" " Drive, for God's sake, drive !" "What about the others ?" " What others ?" "Come on, go, go, go !" "So according to you, you had a date in the street, at one a. m., with a lady." "A married woman whose name you won't tell." "It wouldn't be proper." "And you never saw this tool before ?" "You don't even know its purpose ?" "Isn't this a blow torch ?" "Yes it is, but why do you say so ?" "it's the beginning of a confession, the road to ruin." "Everything is appearances." "It looks like a blow torch, we look like coppers..." "You look more and more like a bloke about to end in the cooler." "I just came back from Nanterre." "18 Avenue Jean Jaurès, nobody knows any David Merousanski." "How strange that you can't remember your own name !" "That was your third mistake since yesterday morning." "The commotion, no doubt." "The shock." "We must think of chiding the watchman who fired his gun." "The gentleman was traumatized." "Or maybe..." "no I can't believe it." "Could you be trying to slow the investigation down ?" "To give your friends time enough to beat it ?" "What friends ?" "I don't have any friends, I'm a misanthropist." "There were four of you." "One clobbered the watchman." "One was waiting at the wheel." "One slipped away through the backyard..." "Well, here it is !" "Maréchal, Alphonse, a. k. a. "Clever" Alphonse." "Born in Paris 11, of Léon Octave and Marthe Angèle Lavinal;" "1953, a robbery case, dismissed;" "1958, breaking and entering..." "dismissed." "Last known address:" "27 Place Edouard Renard, Paris 12." "Is Place Edouard Renard still valid ?" "Didn't you bolt the door ?" " I don't remember." "Say, your home is not very tidy." "Yeah, it seems you had visitors before we came." "Go on." "Search away." "My little stash is in a safe place, a cool place." "The Rouquemoute, the Arthur, the Edmont are not great at searching a house but they're champions at cleaning it up fast." "Thanks, chaps !" "That's what friendship can get you." "Freedom !" "In jail, you can hardly hear the echoes of the parties thrown in its name and of prowess's undertaken to free man from his last bound: gravity." "Not a single word." "Not a single parcel." "Not a single money order." "Nothing." "Funny how they're always here when you're OK." "They call themselves friends." "But as soon as the weather gets cloudy, they vanish under doors and in cracks in the walls." "Fleeing, furtive:" "cockroaches !" "Woodlice !" "New names appear on the Earth." "Full of promises." "Full of dreams." "Jacques Anquetil adds his own to the list as he wins the Tour de France." "And to think that I have 100 million sleeping in Tonton's cellars." "Utrillo, Braque, Dufy..." "and not a pack of fags." "But as soon as I'm out, mister Tonton will have his width reduced," "I'll miniaturize him, I'll dissolve him." "Promises, always." "They promise peace, they make war." "They promise kingdoms, they give blessings." "They promise the Moon, they never give it." "But Anquetil, fortunately, wins the Tour de France." "Out in two years." "I'll rush to the Rouquemoute's and clobber him." "I'll turn him upside down, I'll have him vomit his sweets and I'll send his broad to Dakar so she can get a tan." "The world is crazy." "It laughs !" "It cries !" "It kills !" "It plays !" "It hits !" "It congratulates itself !" "It still shoots for the Moon." "The lucid Jacques Anquetil wins another Tour de France." "For the Arthur, simple:" "I'll make him eat his balaclava." "I'll plunge him in ice water and wait for him to swell." "As for the Edmont, my friend Edmont," "I don't know what I'll do to him yet, but I want it to be a landmark." "Jacques Clément, 1589." "Ravaillac, 1610." "François Damien, 1757." "Edmond Clancul, 1965." "A year of prowess." "Greek prowess in Japan." "Female in Great-Britain." "English in Australia." "Catholic in Italy." "Russian and American on the Moon." "And French in the Tour de France." "Alphonse Maréchal, you're a free man." "A free man." "Free." "Free." "A six month remission, in spite of the police being opposed to it, but your tests are satisfying." "Maybe you should beware of a tendency to idealize, which can incite either to militarism or delinquency." "In either case, we'll be here to help you getting over all sorts of lapses." "But watch out:" "we can read in your file:" "" Unidentified accomplices on the lam", which leads us to underline a capital point:" "the danger that lies in even the sentimental temptation of renewing old acquaintances." "Well, Alphonse, are you preparing for the hunting season ?" "I'd see you buying a repeater" "Let's say a four-shot gun, shall we ?" "Time must have passed slowly." "No visits." "No parcels." "I fail to understand why you didn't give those so-called mates to us." "Well, I fail to understand a number of things." "For instance, how a man in your league could tackle a safe with just ten million inside." "Well, as if we could always understand the reasons of everything..." "Ten million." "There was only ten million." "They screwed me all right." "Bastards !" "Woodlice !" "I'll get them out of their holes !" "It's very empty and extremely dense at the same time." "And it does cling to a wall, doesn't it ?" "It depends on which wall." "Right in the middle of the blue period." "All the works from this period are absolutely impossible to find." "Five years ago, they were supposed to be impossible to sell." "Maybe so." "It's a matter of fashion." "Two years ago, we had five of them for sale, and a Texan buyer took them all." "And how much is this one ?" "Two hundred and fifty thousand francs." "Twenty five millions of old francs." "Say..." "The cost of living sure went up !" "At such a price, it's still a very good investment." "The ambassador of Ghana is interested in it." "If you're too, I'd advise you to decide rather fast." "Thank you." "I'll think about it and come back later." "See you soon, I hope." " So do I." "I've now been offering you fourteen different jobs." "Either you'd have to get up too early or to turn in too late." "Nothing is ever acceptable." "There's an offer for building labourers." "A big guy like you..." "You shouldn't rely on that." "I've got big bones but they're brittle." "I don't have any strength." "If only you had a specialty." "I had one but it wasn't popular." "Léone has left our territory." "The Rouquemoute sold her to a very obnoxious bloke called Omar." "We've not seen her for three years." "Could they have shovelled Edmond away ?" "No, it wouldn't be fair." "The Tonton Gallery ?" "No, I'm sorry." "No art dealer is called that." "No respected dealer at any rate." "If you want, I can inquire with Mr. De Mulder." "Oh, because Mr. De Mulder is very respected ?" "Oh, he's not exactly a dealer anymore." "Rather an organizer, a personality of world of the arts." "What did he tell you about me ?" "He knows you ?" "No, I don't mean him, I mean the cop who came to see you." "Oh, yes, he told me about your skills as a locksmith and a mover." "He didn't pass you off as second rate anyway." "Are you surprised ?" "No." "What surprises me is that you didn't ring the alarm when you saw me coming in" "When a gentleman comes here, what can we fear ?" "I'm not a maiden anymore and all the paintings are insured." "Between you and me, why do you come here ?" "To buy, to steal or to talk ?" "I can't afford to buy anymore." "I can't afford anything anyway." "Even buying you dinner would present me with a problem." "I've got a lot of dates these days, you know." "I'm not really inclined to steal anymore." "But I'd like to talk, true enough." " To whom ?" " To a robber." "Don't laugh !" "All robbers aren't nice guys." "Well, I'll leave you now." "Maybe I'll come again." "Whenever you want." "Say, if I ever recoup my losses, maybe we could talk again about that invitation." "No need to rob a bank for that:" "I eat very light dinners." "Nothing's changed, has it, mister Alphonse ?" "No, nothing." "Except that somebody else is gobbling the Triple-0 Belon oysters." "Except that somebody else's song is played for the ladies." "And except for the fact that the rascal, there, pretends that he doesn't know me." "So, "Clever", you're back around here ?" "Well, yes I am." "Everywhere I go, they just love me !" "I move whole crowds." "I wasn't looking for you but I'm happy to see you." "I congratulate you." "Yes, I do:" "I heard that you were looking for a job." "You can't find any..." "I can't believe how things have changed." "In the old days, when a hoodlum got out of the can, he picked up his tools one month later and, lo !" "You wouldn't want me to do such a thing ?" "I'm kidding." "No !" "I'm evoking." "I'm idealizing." "What a time we're living in !" "Didn't you notice ?" "Everything moves, everything changes:" "things and people too." "You can't find anything anymore." "Or, now and again, by chance, a nocturnal zombie, a ghost..." "Speaking of ghosts, did you ever see Riton the Armenian again ?" "I don't even know whom you're talking about." "One of your colleagues." "Very gifted, you might have known him." "Now he's retailing food products in Chartres." "Oh, I could as well tell you about Freddy the Spahi." " No." " No ?" "Or about the Rouquemoute." "Or about Jeannot from Bicêtre." "All of them vanished." "And it's the same with the broads." "The other night, for instant, Berthoux..." "You know Berthoux ?" "One of my funny guys ?" "I can't know them all, no." "Well, he actually met a ghost." "A girl named Léone, who used to be a whore in the Rue St. Denis." "We'd not seen her for years." "And you'll never guess where we found her again:" "just in front of Médrano." "And I could go on like this for hours." "Belgeorgette, who had a house in the Rue St. Georges, is now a delivery man in Montpellier, can you believe that ?" "I don't know why they inform me of all this." "I don't know why I'm telling you." "Nonsense." "Taxi !" "If the Rouquemoute double-crossed you, mister Alphonse," "I can't do anything about it." "He was an evil doer." "He did bad things to me as well as to you." "We're not going to start a club, are we ?" "I'm really unlucky." "I always end up with really mean guys." "Mad dogs." "So you didn't see the Rouquemoute." "What about the others ?" "Vanished." "All of them." "Edmont ?" "What about Arthur ?" "Get lost." "Here is Omar." "Are you tending a tearoom ?" "Are you rebuilding your strength ?" "I'm asking you what you're doing here !" "We're talking." "And there's nothing more annoying than being interrupted" "That was a dangerous move." "Warn the gentleman." "Tell him who I am." "You're ferocious." "You're dreaded." "You don't know your own strength." "Get out while you still control yourself." "So, how long since you saw Arthur last ?" "He sometimes comes for a spell." "On Saturdays." "You don't say ?" "As a client ?" "Yes and no." "He tips me for the horse races." "Omar is OK with it." "You can't imagine how Arthur has changed." "He's still a little slow when he starts." "You'll cut on the hay and add some oats." "Next Sunday, I want him to fly like a Boeing." "Alright, mister Gasquin." "You probably didn't read the sign." "It applies to everybody." "But I'm not everybody, Arthur." "I'm a friend." "Can't you remember ?" "I don't have memories anymore." "I wiped them all out." "I changed worlds." "Social evolution, they call it." "I can see that." "Equestrian elegance, good manners..." "I'm glad to see that my dough fell into good hands." "Your dough ?" "Well, didn't you dream when you were in jail ?" "Either that or you listened to slander." "Now, if you came to mooch me, I've got no objection." "How much do you need ?" "Ten ?" "Twenty ?" "Thirty ?" "You've got to start anew." "And if you want it to yield a profit, just bet all of it on Bébé Rose, in the fourth race, next Sunday." "He's a horse of mine." "With a little luck, you can make big money." "So ?" "Couldn't you at least say thanks ?" "You did evolved, alright." "You became a real daredevil." " I changed too." " Well, it doesn't show much." "I became quick-tempered." "I lost four million and spent five years in jail because of your prank." "It time to pay the bill, Arthur." "First, you're going to sell one of your horses." "They're not worth a penny." "What about Bébé Rose ?" "I thought he was a crack ?" "A dead loss." "And you told me he would win on Sunday." "You're a real bastard." "No, oh no !" "Well, he's a horse, he's got four legs and he trots." "You can already take for granted that I bet one thousand francs on him, and that he'll win at ten to one." "I need one million on Sunday evening." "By that time, I hope I'll have seen Edmont." "Why don't you give me his address, while we're at it." "Are you crazy ?" "Why would I know Edmont's address?" "Stop it, stop it !" "Oh, the hell with it." "I don't see why I should cover for that arsehole." "After all, he brought us all up shit creek, didn't he ?" "Villa Volubilis, Sentier des Forêts, in Bourg-la-Reine." "There..." "How dumb can the State be ?" "He still had one year to go !" "Why did they turn him loose ?" "I didn't have the time to ask him." "So sorry." "How is he ?" "Nervous." "Obsessed with his money." "I was forced to give him your address." "You can't have done that !" "If I hadn't, we'd have come to blows." "He's especially sore about you." "It's normal." "You were his pal." "Come to think of it, what you did wasn't very nice." "What ?" "What are you, crazy ?" "Here !" "From some Arthur." "Arthur the horse driver." "Hello ?" "Yes ?" "Hello ?" "Hello ?" "Arthur ?" "Arthur ?" "Hello ?" "Hello, Arthur ?" "Yes, on the sidewalk." "From Lescure." "Lescure !" "You're wanted on the phone." "It's Lescure !" "Ladies and gentlemen..." "Oh, come toward the truth, man !" "Come toward the light !" "Mister Clancul, don't you recognize me ?" "Alphonse." "Edmont's friend." "Your son Edmont." "The puvanas have long been waiting for you." "You are under the sign !" " Savgar and Dagma escort you !" " Rama, Rama, Rama !" "The enlighted one fights the impure one." "Latmon goes up in the brightness, and Shiva calls !" "While he's at it, could you tell him to call Edmont ?" "No haste." "Respect of the cycles." "He who must come always comes." "Edmont is approaching." "He received the light." " When ?" " Yesterday." "You'll receive it too." "You'll know the seven perfections." " The gnosis." " Rama, Rama, Rama !" "Where is Edmont ?" "He who must come always comes." "Rama, Rama, Rama !" "Well, shit..." "Edmont !" "What's got into you ?" "Have you gone crazy ?" "Edmont !" "Edmont !" "You really should see a doctor." "Come !" "Oh, you fucker !" "You almost tricked me again, didn't you ?" "Oh, man of violence." "What if I jumped on your tummy ?" "You're the pawn of the dark powers." "Not responsible." "Oh, yeah ?" "One, two..." "Don't do it !" "What are you looking for ?" "Today's horoscope." "Here, if it can help you." "Come on !" "I'm listening." "What do you want me to talk about ?" "Tonton." "Rouquemoute." "Why not about Arthur ?" "I could tell you about Arthur." "He just had a visit." "A bad one." "He's quite pale." "Quite cold, quite dead, I know." " Oh ?" " Yes." "What about Rouquemoute ?" "The man with red hair is behind a mist, very far away." "I can barely see him." "Add some fluid, why don't you ?" "I'm not kidding you." "Nobody saw the Rouquemoute in four years." "What about Tonton ?" "Oh..." "I can see spots." "Coloured spots." "The whole prism." "A rainbow." "And Tonton..." "Yes, I can see Tonton." "Indescribable." "Too strong a radiation." "Everything is bursting into flame." "A great, blinding nebula." "Heads." "Numbers." "Washington." "Molière." "William Tell." "Oh, it looks like bank notes." "A lot of bank notes." "Oh, dear !" "The Sultan's palace, so grand a home, so green a haven !" " Where ?" " Neuilly." "Be a little more specific, cause we're going there now." "Impossible." "I can see an obstacle." "What kind ?" " The notes." "Here they are again." "But arranged in two piles now." "Fifty-fifty, so to speak." " What if I told you to go and..." " I can't see anything anymore." "I can't see anything, my angels don't come and visit me anymore." "You're alone in the world." "So you don't agree ?" "Well, there you go !" "Get outside so I won't see you anymore !" "I might be alone in the world sooner than you think." "You always were alone, you louse !" "Even when you played big brother with me." "Even during playtimes, you had to defend me, to protect me." "How you bugged me !" "To think that I was lucky enough not to have a brother." "You screwed my life up." "I just had five great years, while you were in the can." "Couldn't you die there ?" "No !" "It's elementary school all over again." "Now I have to inform, to give you Tonton's address so you can go and beat him up." "Don't touch me !" "Don't touch me !" "Don't touch me !" "Thank you." "I love you, darling." "It's as beautiful as the sea." "Whether you like or dislike it is unimportant, in the end" "Pierre sold me this for thirty thousand last year." "It's worth three times that now." "Modern art is in Madagascar." " The press agrees." "This is swell !" "Very swell." "Yes." "What is it ?" "How do you do ?" "How do you do, you fat faggot ?" "Do you know ?" "..." "Sir Alec..." "Crawford ?" "I know somebody who's going to be ass-kicked through his gallery." "No, don't pay any attention." "No, my friend Alphonse is an old comrade." "From the maquis." "A tough guy." "Don't throw a spanner in my works." "Shake his hand." "Mr. Maréchal, Alphonse." "He was the "lieutenant Loiseau" in the Résistance" " I didn't come here to..." " Please excuse me for a moment." "Pray, what are you doing ?" " My dough !" " You've gone crazy." "Completely crazy, my poor Alphonse." "You could have killed me." "Well, this is of no consequence." "My days are numbered, but for you..." "It would have meant the criminal court, Alphonse." "And what motive would you have invoked to defend yourself ?" "What about the dough you stole from me ?" "Isn't that a motive ?" "And what about letting me starve for four years?" "Isn't that a motive too ?" "Right, I'm willing to forget your violence" "But I suspect there's a distressing misunderstanding between us" "No, no, no, let's keep cool, shall we ?" "Let's talk !" "Of course we're going to talk." "We're going to talk about my dough, aren't we ?" "Yes, or about paintings, that's the same thing." " My dear Alphonse..." " I'm listening." "You had, if memory serves, entrusted me with some paintings ?" "I was forced to sell them." "Oh, no, I insist: forced." "On the day after your regrettable expedition," "I was visited by three of your comrades." "Three sorry excuses for gangsters." "They wanted money." "They demanded it !" "And since they demanded it while holding a razor to my throat..." "That's strange:" "I know them." "A razor is not like them." "For forty million, people have been known to change." "Anyway, I had to part with your canvases." "Oh, I tried to preserve your interests." "Impossible: they were brutes !" "But given your earlier excesses... must I understand that you're short of money ?" "Yes, but I could afford a razor nonetheless." "Oh, please, let's stop playing." "Aren't you fed up with your villainous epics ?" "Life, which is a great lesson dispenser, taught me that only work pays." "And you can believe in the experience of a friend" "Yes, yes, yes, a friend." "How would you like working for me ?" "You're a real sissy, you know that ?" "You're asking for a slap, ain't you ?" "Control yourself, my dear chap, control yourself." "Come on, be practical." "Be modern." "I can make you a rich man." "I was initiated too late, already an old man." " Almost dead." " Almost." "Oh, don't be afraid, I'm going to leave you." "But you offer that I should work for you won't be acceptable" "With you..." "But that you, on the other hand, should work for me is a possibility." "I've got to dream about it, I'll give you an answer tomorrow." "Thank you." "Cat !" "Cat !" "Alphonse, my son, when it comes to conning people, the shrewdest operations are nothing do you hear me ?" "Nothing !" "compared to abstract painting." "Cat." "Take good care of the gentleman." "He's now a member of our house." "See you tomorrow." "I thought you didn't know him." "You really played me for a sod." "Oh, gee, what a look !" "Are you sulking, now?" "Did you dislike something ?" "Yes, your language." "If you're going to be part of the house, you'll have to get used to it." "In the world of the arts and literature, my dear, we talk dirty." "Vulgarity was for a long time reserved to a certain world..." " Yes, mine." " Yours." "Women of the world have now taken it over." "The word "sod" which seemed to shocked you has taken a positive meaning." "They use it to call their maids, their friends, their mothers." "Cat !" "Cat !" "Please help me darling, I'm going to kill myself," "I hope you're not in favour of the bloody new figurative school." "I'll tell you where it leads:" "to the negation of negritude and the persecution of homosexuals." "Which means, if you're logical, to suicide." "Would you like anything ?" "The future is the belly button" "There's no salvation outside of Buddha." "Next summer, instead of going to Portofino" "I'll go and purify myself in the Ganges." "A famous painter already bought a studio in Karapur" "Pardon me" "Surely you're a stranger to such things." "No, not at all, no." "I'm half Brahmin." " You don't say ?" " I do." "I knew whole families of dervishes." "In Saint-Mandé." "And even a genuine fakir." "Complete with a crystal ball and a white robe." "How fascinating !" "Where is he ?" "Oh... the thing is... right now..." "he's travelling." "Sailing." "If everything goes well, he must even be sailing around Conflans." "You won't find a cab around here I'll give you a lift." "Thanks." "Say, in the world of the arts and literature" "When you want to tell a girl that you like her and... would like to have breakfast with her." " You mean: to score ?" " Yes." "There are several schools" "You can send her flowers everyday Or die for her" "Or even take her to Tahiti." "Become crazy; ruin yourself" "Or simply... take her in your arms and tell her "where shall we go ?"" "Honey !" "I can't go out tomorrow, I'm bruised all over." "Say !" "Number 35 !" "What is it ?" "A Yotberg, first period." " And what does it depict ?" " Nothing." "But it can be worth three million if De Mulder pushes it." "De Mulder..." "How long have you been together, by the way ?" "Well..." "life is not always easy..." "He was nice to me..." "and also..." "Also you didn't know me yet." "You hadn't met Prince Charming yet." "Do you know what we should do on Sunday ?" "No." "De Mulder's boat is moored at the Saint-Cloud Bridge." "If the weather is fair, we can sail the River Seine down to Les Andelys." "If we all sail down the River Seine, there's bound to be a traffic jam." "What do you know ?" "I've been trying to call you for one hour." "Instead of taking the phone off the hook, you should have told me you were away." "It would have spared us the light comedy situation." "You're not going to make a fuss, are you ?" "About what I offered you yesterday..." "It's still valid." "I think the two of us are going to get along just fine." "The disarming recklessness of great paranoiacs." "A fakir commits suicide in Rouen." "He who must go always goes in the end" "Edmont read too much Maybe he tried to walk on water." "What about Arthur ?" "What was he walking on ?" "Fate strikes down your torturers You should be glad." " Some series, I don't like." " Don't think about it anymore" "Let's rather talk about our business." "Alright, in order to be fair to everybody," "I propose you to give me a try-out for six months." " Well..." " Let's say one million a month." "And the hours won't be a problem, since I'll live on the premises." "Oh, because, on top of that, you intend to camp here ?" "Alphonse'd better be on site." "In the meantime, would you like to grant me some credit for equipment ?" "So I don't embarrass you." "I knew you were dishonest, Alphonse" "But to such an extent..." "I can hardly believe it." "Charcoal grey flannel !" "My Darling, the client's eye must be drawn to the colours of the painting" "Not to the seller's." "Darling !" "I like the colours In that one, I like the drawing" "Forget the word "drawing", darling" "It's completely anachronistic." "You must talk about graphic design, or modelling." "Or conditioning of the object, my favourite." " Do you think the clients will understand ?" " Understand ?" "You're going from anachronism to insult." "And... never use the word "colour" either, my love" "Talk about scale of shades, about matte quality." "About rhythm." "This is too good to be true." "Where does the girl want to lead me ?" "What's the matter ?" "What are you thinking of ?" "Guess." "Hatter, fifteen thousand." "Shirt maker, one hundred and sixty thousand ?" "Tailor, four hundred and forty thousand ?" "Car..." "Oh, no !" "Where are your fancies going to end ?" "I kept things to the bare necessities, so the gentleman would be presentable." "Come on, Love Bear, you must admit he had the strangest style." "His style didn't seem to put you off much." "Here we are !" "I already told you it was wrong of me, so let's not breach the subject again." "And my love bear knows that I'm never away for long." " Beg your pardon ?" " Love Bear is hurt." "I can dump him if you like." "But I'm afraid." "Not for me, mind you." " How do you mean ?" " Nothing in particular..." "I always avoid talking about you" "But when it happens, I don't like the expression on his face." "What with the dough I send his way, he could forget about me a little !" "But he... he didn't..." "didn't say anything special ?" "Special, no, not really." "Yesterday, as he read the paper, the piece about the inauguration..." "He said..." "One of these days, they'll write about Tonton in the next column." "I guess it was the news in brief." "So he was released early, I say alright." "He's doing a bit of blackmail, alright still." "But between you and me, you're a dork if you keep on paying." "What could the jerk prove against us ?" "Rouquemoute, you're becoming bourgeois." " Your dough is choking your brain." " I'm reasoning." "Yes." "But you're reasoning as if Alphonse wanted to sue us." "The bastard is demanding answers." "But not before the justice of the peace." "I'm getting out of trouble with some change, mere crumbs." "But you... if ever he starts working on you..." "You'll have no choice but moving in with Léone again or selling shoelaces in the street." "Don't say such things." "Since I've got a little dough, you'd have to pay me to play the pimp." "And supposing that we have to give him back some bread" "I'm not alone." "The other two are there." "No, not anymore." "You don't say ?" " That's the way things are." "And if we don't do something very clever very soon, things will be increasingly that way." "All of them." "Could I come around six ?" "No, just for a brushing." "Thank you." "Can I help you ?" " Oh, no, I'm just browsing." "This is personal, energetic, violent !" "I just love it, love it, love it !" "It's going very far !" "This is my personal favourite style." "The rhythm..." "Something African..." "But don't get me wrong:" "this is tamed, moderated," "If the New York exhibition works like we hope it will, the kid is going to become famous overnight." "Salvatore is on it, but I can reserve it for you until 6 pm." "Thank you." "I'd like it to stay in France." "You know ?" "One word: bravo !" "Alphonse !" "I can't believe it !" "You're out ?" "Since when ?" "Two months." " Two months ?" "And you tell it to me like this ?" "So if I didn't get lost in your neighbourhood, if I didn't look into your shop, we might never have seen each other again." "You really could have sent word to me." "I can understand you being superstitious, mind you." "Not consorting with the blokes with whom you got unlucky" "Not working with them anymore." "But avoiding them like lepers..." "you don't have a right !" "Look, Rouquemoute.." "I didn't do five years to hear you talk about my rights." "Five years... without one parcel !" "Without a penny !" "What ?" "Those arseholes never helped you ?" "Didn't they ?" "I can understand the cool reception now." "And all in all, you're right." "I'm responsible." "I shouldn't have trusted them." "But the faggots will have to give it back, now !" "Give back what ?" " The bread, what else ?" "Oh, of course, you don't know..." "Kate !" "Weren't you supposed to call on Guillaume ?" "Yes, I was." " Well, go on, kid." "So ?" "What don't I know ?" "On the cursed year, when I found myself in the blitz..." "I had some kind of inspiration." "I dashed to your place." "So ?" "There were people there already." "Edmond had picked the front door lock" "And Arthur was working on the fish tank." "The worst is I that I considered it normal." "See you soon." " See you soon." "Alright, go on." "Then we went to Arthur's place" "And we divided your notes in four piles." "Edmont took two, for the parcels and the lawyer, he said." "Ah, the bastard !" "I wish you could have heard him !" "He was afraid we would forget you we would not send you the money orders on time." "And the punchline ?" "I can foresee two stages, and I begin with the second one." "I'm going to deal with the two ugly ones tomorrow" "And I won't be nice;" "I want them on their knees." "In the meantime, I'm taking you with me" "We're going to settle our accounts, do the maths..." "And drink to your release from jail." "Wait, you're making me dizzy." "Do the maths ?" "What maths ?" "The interests, pal !" "I didn't let your dough hibernate." "It's been working !" "I'm not telling you more:" "I want to surprise you." "Come: we've got a forty kilometres drive." "No." "I can't go now," "I've got to mind the shop, but..." "I'll join you tonight after dinner." "Where's your surprise ?" " In Pontoise" "Go straight to the fairground, then ask for me." "So ?" "See you tonight ?" " Tonight..." "Do you know you hurt my feelings earlier ?" "You old rascal." "Hey !" "I forgot to ask you !" "Is Léone alright ?" "I lost her." "Three years ago." "Dead." "Typhoid." "I'm so sorry." "Juvenile delinquency is booming." "The top-seller is the bicycle chain." "Hardly anybody comes to see me anymore." "Ah, do you remember what a parade it was in Gégène's time ?" "We could barely supply everybody." "Gégène really liked you." "When he sold you your first slim Jim, I remember him saying:" ""This bloke will go far. "" "We lived in the Rue Frémicourt then." "We often talked about you." "What was your nickname again ?" ""Clever" Can you believe it ?" "I know one must not speak of sad things." "But when I learned that you worked with the red headed man," "I smelled a rat." "A bloke who takes away one million in hardware" "Leaving just two thousand as a deposit" "And then never comes back..." "I call that a bad person." "Don't you ?" "Is your wrist strong enough to bear big stuff ?" "I'm not adverse to it." "Except for the noise." "What about this ?" "38 special." "No jamming hazard whatsoever." "With the Magnum, you can kill an elephant at 30 meters." "I say an elephant..." "as I could say anything else" "How much ?" " Nothing." "a gift" "Come on, there's no reason for this." " Yes there is," "I want to participate in a good deed." "Leave it be." "I'll close" "So, mate, can you figure it out ?" "Oh, you know, me and numbers." " You'll get used to it." "As far as accounting is concerned, we entertained bad habits for too long." "Crash, let the door fall out and let the notes come in..." "In regular business, you've got taxes, more taxes, insurances..." "The benefit is far reduced after all that" " So are the risks." "Say, I'm beginning to be famished." "No, thanks." "At such an hour, I'd rather have solids" "OK." "What about briefing me ?" " Well, it's easy" "Either we sell it, and you earn eight million, which doubles your initial capital." "Or we operate it and we get six thousand every month." "Well, it's worth thinking about it." "But when I'm hungry..." "You're right." "We're off." "But first, humour me" "I'd like you to see the wonder." "You're going to be astounded." "So ?" "Isn't it beautiful ?" "Here !" "Watch the engineering !" "Made in Deutschland !" "Twenty horses !" "A double jumper !" "Entirely overhauled six months ago." "Good as new !" "The seats are foam rubber a genuine caress for your butt !" "Come !" "Come and try it !" "Come and sit by your mate !" "Come on !" "I'm giving you a free ride !" "Courtesy of the owner." "Well, why don't you come, old chap ?" "Alphonse ?" "Where are you ?" " I'm here." "What are you doing ?" "You're going to have the free ride, mate." "You deserve it:" "you had it all refurbished." "Also, I want to see you having fun." "Don't do it, Alphonse." "Alphonse !" "Alphonse !" "Alphonse !" "Stop it, Alphonse !" "Stop !" "Where were you ?" "I was out of my mind with worry." "I waited until two." "You didn't have to wait:" "I never left you all night long." "Do you hear ?" "All night long." "You must have had a nightmare." "Go back to sleep." "Is he here ?" "Alphonse !" "But this is insane !" "What right have you ?" "Come on, get up." "Hey, are you deaf ?" "So ?" "Are you coming or not ?" "Now, that man is crazy !" " Come on, get dressed!" "They're waiting for you at the station." "Say, may I know what's happening to you ?" "To me, nothing." "But to your friends, sad things." "This is the unfortunate scene" "Up to now, I thought you were a funny little burglar" "An eccentric" "I didn't really believe you repented" "But I thought you'd keep your hands clean." "Come on, hurry up." "So ?" "Will you come already ?" "And might I know why ?" "To tell us what you were doing tonight between one and three am" "We know that you always have dates with women at such hours" "But this time, I'd advise you to be a little less gentlemanly and a little more specific." "I perfectly willing to." "If Miss Verdier should allow me." "Well, between one and three am," "Mister Maréchal and Miss Verdier were busy getting their kicks." "Is that enough ?" "I hope you've got a good lawyer among your acquaintances." "Excellent" "Then ask him about the article number 361 of the penal code" "It covers false testimony." "Now, would Miss Verdier kindly leave me alone with the gentleman ?" "Here you are." " If you're going to torment me again..." "Do you know Arabic sayings ?" "One of them means a lot." ""Sit by the wadi and you'll see your enemy's corpse passing eventually"" "You've just seen three corpses passing." "It would not do, on any account, that a fourth one should join the parade." "Get it ?" " I get nothing." "Let me translate" "Should you grieve in the near future for another member of your inner circle... we'd take you in custody and you'd go down in the cooler for twenty year" "You've got my word." "Oh, shit..." "Alright." "Suitcase." "May God be with you." "Hurry up." "What is that luggage for ?" "Are you going somewhere ?" "No, I'm back." "If I'm not mistaken, my dear child," "I just passed a law enforcement officer." "Was he visiting you ?" " Yes." "And do you know what he claims ?" " No." "That Alphonse wasn't here all night." "I of course insisted that he was." "You were wrong." "Oh, Cat, my darling baby," "I've got terrible news." " Be brave." "A great friend just took leave of us." " Not the one you think." "Alphonse." " Bloody hell !" "Tonton !" "Tonton !" "Don't die on me, do you hear, don't you dare do this to me !" "Call a doctor, what are you waiting for ?" "Yes." " Let go of me !" "What is it ?" "It's the same Mister Alphonse." "He's insistent." "I forbid him to come in." "I forbid it !" "Throw him out !" "That's a rich one, sir." "How should I do that ?" "Tonton !" "Tonton !" "Come on, open the door !" "I already came this morning, yesterday and twice the past week." "Open up !" "We've got to talk !" "Go away !" "Get out of here !" "You're all red with blood !" "Can't you let me die in peace ?" " Don't talk like that !" "Don't say such bullshit !" "What did I do to you ?" "What ?" "Oh, I know you, now !" "All you think about is killing people !" "Oh, come on, Tonton, calm down !" "Use your common sense!" "I've got a great job in your gallery." "My interest is for you to die a hundred years old !" "Do you hear me ?" "A hundred years !" "Why the hell should I kill you ?" "Because you're carnivorous !" "You're a savage !" "A vindictive person !" "A heinous person !" "Don't think about it." "Suppose his mood changes." "One week from now, he'll swear only by your name." "I tell you he's going crazy !" "He doesn't eat or go out anymore" "Can you picture him dying of languor ?" "What a bastard !" "Do you want me to go and see him ?" "Talk to him ?" "Oh, my little girl !" "I called you my little girl" "I believed it in the end." "Ah, death is a terrible thing." "So I'm going to leave you in the clutches of that conniving thug !" "He's going to ruin you !" "To spend everything !" "The paintings !" "The shop !" "Everything !" "Calm down, Love Bear, you're hurting yourself." "I'm hurt already." "You two took care of that." "But the story won't end as you think it will." "So the idiot says I'm crazy !" "Good !" "I'm going to act as if I were." "I'll will my masterpieces to the State." "There will be a "De Mulder Room" in the Louvre." "Come on: call Ravinel, the solicitor, in his office." "If only you knew how I regret the grief I caused you." "Call Ravinel for me then go !" "He must be waiting for you." "Are you sending me away ?" "Cat !" "If you would, you could save my life." "Do you want me to stay by your side ?" "To care for you ?" "You, stupid girl !" "I can pay a nurse to care for me." "No, you must defend me provide me with a weapon against the mad dog." "For instance, if you stated in writing that you lied to the cops the other morning." "I can't do that." " Yes, you can." "Nobody will use the letter" "It will stay at the solicitor's." "And do you know what we can write on the envelope ?" "To be opened only in case of violent death" "In case of natural death, to be given to Catherine Verdier, my sole legatee." "How about that ?" "Put it in the secretaire, my little girl." "It's good to be able to call you that again." "My little girl..." "Darling, it's awful, he forced me !" "I didn't want to !" "What didn't you want ?" " To write that letter !" "I apologize !" "What letter ?" "To whom ?" " To the police !" "To tell them that I lied the other morning !" "I pitied him, I was mad, I swear it on my mother's head !" "Screw your mother !" "Where is the damn letter ?" "In his bedroom." "In the secretaire." "The small drawer on the left." "Darling !" "The key !" "Where did you hide it ?" "Where ?" "I'm warning you: sick or not, you're going to have to..." "Inspector Lescure, Police." "Hello ?" "Yes." "The letter is not here anymore." "And somebody offed Tonton." " Did they ?" "He's dead." " You poor sod !" "This is nothing." "All of this is nothing !" "Twenty years..." "I can do twenty years on one leg." "My friend the copper was right:" "Sit by the wadi and you'll see the corpse of your enemy passing by eventually." "Well I'm going to sit by the wadi." "No matter how long it takes." "And if the Catherine doesn't pass by, I'll go and look for her." "By the time I get out of here, she'll be forty-five," "And what with all the millions she'll have stuffed herself with, she'll be a lot bigger." "She'll make a nice fat woodlouse." "All the more delicious to crush under my heels !" "Just let me play again and some people will understand !" "Crack !" "Crack !" "Under my heels !" "They'll understand !" "All of them !" "Under my heels !" "Under my heels !" "Under my heels..." "Translation:" "Goupil66 Timing:" "McDuck July 2009"