"That is your share."
Masin laughed and shook his head.
"No," he said. "What is given to you is not given to me. Why should I
share with you?"
"It is our custom," Toto replied. "Take your half."
Masin refused stoutly, but Toto insisted and grew angry at last. So
Masin changed the note and kept two francs and fifty centimes for
himself, reflecting that he could give the money back to Malipieri,
since he had no sort of right to it. Toto was at once pacified.
When Malipieri returned, Masin went out and got dinner for all three,
bringing it as usual in the three tin cases strapped one above the
other.
Toto supposed that he was not to be left alone in the apartment that
day; but at half-past four Malipieri entered the room, with a padlock
and a couple of screw-eyes in his hand.
"You would not think it worth while to risk jumping out," he said in a
good-humoured tone. "But you might take it into your head to open the
window, and the porter might be there, and you might talk to him.
Masin and I shall be out together for a little while."
Masin shut the tall window, screwed the stout little eye-bolts into
the frame and ran the bolt of the padlock through both. He gave the
key to Malipieri. Toto watched the operation indifferently.
"If you please," he said, "I am accustomed to have a little wine about
half-past five every day.
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