Topaze Page #10

Right away?

The earlier the better.

- Here, in front of you?

- Yes, by Jove.

You wish to see

a fellow human moaning?

Who says you have to moan?

I always tell them:

"Why moan,

you're going to pay up anyhow."

But no, they always moan.

You'd think it relieves them.

You're too cold blooded.

Yes, I committed a serious fault.

Yes, I deserve to be punished,

however...

- Who's this...

- This man knows our secrets.

- He demands I kill myself.

- No joke?

No, I only wanted...

- How much?

- 200,000.

- What?

- Forget it, sit down.

- Is this it?

- Yes.

- Does Vernickel know I'm in on it?

- Yes,

but he told me

to see Mr. Topaze.

He's no dummy.

There we are.

Excuse me.

Give me Mr. Vernickel

at the Public Conscience.

Venerable old man,

this isn't your first blackmail job?

Do I look like a beginner?

I started with (censored).

- That was nice work.

- Oh yes.

You better believe it,

deputies, ministers, fine people.

I've done around forty jobs.

Without ever hearing a crude word.

And in those days,

I didn't have my physique.

Physique is nothing, it takes nerve.

Don't believe that, your physique...

Hello? Yes, hello, dear friend.

Very well, thank you.

I'm with a venerable old man,

a friend of yours.

I find him expensive.

Ah, yes! A little reduction.

How much?

No, that's still too much, old boy.

I'd be willing to pay 100.

No, 100 sous... 5 francs.

Vernickel...

It's not nice to menace friends.

OK, wait a second.

Have you heard this one?

"Apprentice printer flees Melun

in November 191 1

"with the boss's till.

"He is sentenced on January 2, 1 912

by a criminal court

"to 1 3 month's prison."

Strange, no?

Of course,

a simple misunderstanding.

Yes, an old friendship like ours.

And your little Victor, how is he?

Yes, that's the best age.

Of course, goodbye. See you soon.

It's settled.

And settled well. My compliments.

- I've no choice but to retire.

- True.

Good day.

Excuse me, one last thing.

Please walk out facing backwards.

Why?

If you don't, I won't be able

to resist kicking you.

Very well, very well.

That's that!

That's that.

Tell characters like that

to come see me.

See you later.

See you later.

Hello, dear friend.

I'm pleased to see you. Delighted.

Headmaster.

I've come by so many times,

but you're always out.

I understand, of course.

You're a businessman now.

And what business!

What business!

- You've heard?

- Of course.

I know you're modest,

but you can't stop friends

from being proud.

We all remember you. Only yesterday

at the disciplinary counsel,

I said I was going to offer you

the presidency

of the honor awards committee.

They welcomed this news

with such joy,

you would've been touched.

They begged me

to obtain your consent.

- Me? President?

- Yes.

You'll give a charming speech,

with a touch of emotion.

At least I hope.

No, it's impossible.

Between now and then...

Headmaster,

there was a serious misunderstanding

between us.

But I know you're an upright man

and I owe you the truth.

Swear you'll never repeat

what I'm going to tell you.

If you esteem me enough

to share a secret,

it'll remain buried inside me,

I swear to you.

Headmaster,

I'm no longer an honest man.

Oh, come now!

I'm a mere frontman.

- Come now.

- I'm telling you.

People say so many things.

My dear friend,

you adore paradoxes,

that is your charm.

It's obvious

I didn't invent the street sweepers.

People must recognize it and say it.

Let them come see me.

I'll tell them I saw your plans

and sketches on the blackboard.

Did you see them?

Sort of.

Anyhow I'm ready to testify.

Do you earn a lot?

- Too much.

- The right answer.

You're truly extraordinary.

I've known it for a long time.

How many times did I say at dinner:

"This boy has too much ambition,

he won't stay with us."

And I told my wife:

"When he wants to leave,

I'll let him go."

It was out of pure friendship,

that the day you asked me to leave,

I didn't try to hold you back.

Now, my dear friend,

I wish to discuss a subject

that is close to my heart.

I'm a father, Topaze.

An unhappy father,

you can't imagine.

- Miss Muche is ill?

- Alas!

Does her fate still interest you?

She's been struck

by an incurable ill.

Her lungs?

No, her heart.

See a specialist.

He stands before me. Alas, yes.

When you held the place of honor

at my school,

you walked down the hallways,

Iost in scientific speculations

that kept you from looking down

and seeing the heart

of this poor child.

Your daughter's heart?

She was touched by love's wings.

And me, blind father,

I didn't understand.

But since your departure,

her behavior breaks my heart.

She lies by the fire.

By the fire...

She's lost weight.

Then yesterday,

she told me everything.

This is a father's confession.

- Please stop.

- Say no irreparable words.

She's in the antechamber,

waiting anxiously.

I asked you for your

daughter's hand and you fired me.

- You asked me for her hand?

- Yes.

- You can have it!

- Mr. Muche.

Come here.

Miss Muche, I must tell you

that I refuse this hand

which your father threw in my face,

as you did too.

I had no hope whatsoever

that my father's simplistic plan

would work.

It is far too late for us

to speak of marriage.

But since by chance,

you've risen out of poverty,

I thought,

in memory of colored chalk sticks,

that you might be willing,

not to take my hand,

but to hold out yours.

- Fear not, I won't hang on.

- I don't understand.

What could I do for you?

Speak to the Academy lnspector?

Open doors to another world.

Only once a week, on Thursdays.

You'd buy me a real dress,

take me to the races,

to the theatre, fancy restaurants.

I'm not as stupid

as I pretended to be.

I might do you honor.

Once I've been introduced,

I won't bother you long.

Give me a chance.

And in exchange for this

shameful favor, you'd be ready to...

A beautiful girl can only give

what's hers.

Tell me, dear friend...

Miss...

Very charming.

Miss Ernestine Muche, schoolteacher.

Pity if she stays it.

"Stayed it"!

Muche. Don't know why,

makes me think of a squirrel.

Mr. Topaze had one

- at school.

- But mine was real!

An innocent little creature

that was happy

- where it was.

- It was stuffed!

- She's charming. My compliments.

- To me?

Why?

I'm absolutely not interested

in Miss Muche.

Especially not now.

Perfect! You live at home?

Yes.

But my father has a great deal

of common sense.

Charming and reasonable.

Go have a look

at the Picasso exhibition,

58 Rue de la Botie.

I'll drop by around 5:00.

We can talk painting.

Oh, I love Picasso!

My father's in the waiting room.

I'll get rid of him and hurry over.

- This is appalling!

- Come now.

Let's just call it

"professional orientation".

Moreover, it's not for me,

it's for the senator.

His Lison married

a rich silk merchant

and the good man's lonely.

Here's the Rebizoulet dossier.

Madam Courtois said she'd send

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