The Lady of the Eggs. Watch out! It's important not to break any of them!

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Image Not Available for The Lady of the Eggs. Watch out! It's important not to break any of them!
The Lady of the Eggs. Watch out! It's important not to break any of them!
Image Not Available for The Lady of the Eggs. Watch out! It's important not to break any of them!

The Lady of the Eggs. Watch out! It's important not to break any of them!

PortfolioPlate 221 from the series "Actualités"
Date1866
MediumCrayon lithograph
DimensionsSheet: 244 x 191 mm. (9 5/8 x 7 1/2 in.)
Credit LineBoard of Trustees Fund
Object number1962.123
NOT ON VIEW
Last Updated1/11/24
Image Not Available for Robert Macaire business agent. - By the devil! It's really admirable of you to break your back to pay off your debts, my good chap, wipe them out at once! - But how? - Good heavens! Bring me your books, I'll put them in order, it's my specialty, we'll settle for a few liabilities, a large number of assets, we'll assemble your creditors, we'll offer five percent to be paid over ten years, you won't give them anything during the ten years, in ten years' time you'll start again, your creditors will be dead, the debts forgotten and nobody will say a word about it.
Robert Macaire business agent. - By the devil! It's really admirable of you to break your back to pay off your debts, my good chap, wipe them out at once! - But how? - Good heavens! Bring me your books, I'll put them in order, it's my specialty, we'll settle for a few liabilities, a large number of assets, we'll assemble your creditors, we'll offer five percent to be paid over ten years, you won't give them anything during the ten years, in ten years' time you'll start again, your creditors will be dead, the debts forgotten and nobody will say a word about it.
1837
Image Not Available for Lion's share. Calm yourselves, gentlemen. We've a hundred louis, eighty of them belong to me, eighteen to Mr. Le Comte de St. Bertrand, that leaves two for the fifteen of you... It's strange, these eternal complaints!! Really, it's just not possible to make such a mistake!... What the devil, gentlemen, we're all honest men, sort things out between yourselves, share the two louis between you, let’s not make a scandal!
Lion's share. Calm yourselves, gentlemen. We've a hundred louis, eighty of them belong to me, eighteen to Mr. Le Comte de St. Bertrand, that leaves two for the fifteen of you... It's strange, these eternal complaints!! Really, it's just not possible to make such a mistake!... What the devil, gentlemen, we're all honest men, sort things out between yourselves, share the two louis between you, let’s not make a scandal!
1837
Image Not Available for The other day, I pulled off another smart trick... I had set up a firm with a capital of ten million francs to exploit top boots in cardboard ... I had placed only eight shares worth a petty 1200 francs... I called together my eight shareholders and held forth in something like the following manner: "Ah! Good-day ye strolling gentlemen, how handsome you are, how fine you seem!" I promised them more cheese than bread, I gave them a 50% dividend, I warmed them up a bit and let them simmer... The following day they couldn't get hold of my shares fast enough, I placed all of them and at the next meeting I said: "The last time I did the books I made a mistake. I forgot to take into account the price of the cardboard and its fabrication. You must return the dividend I gave you, I'm going to hold it back... I put down nothing and kept back the r
The other day, I pulled off another smart trick... I had set up a firm with a capital of ten million francs to exploit top boots in cardboard ... I had placed only eight shares worth a petty 1200 francs... I called together my eight shareholders and held forth in something like the following manner: "Ah! Good-day ye strolling gentlemen, how handsome you are, how fine you seem!" I promised them more cheese than bread, I gave them a 50% dividend, I warmed them up a bit and let them simmer... The following day they couldn't get hold of my shares fast enough, I placed all of them and at the next meeting I said: "The last time I did the books I made a mistake. I forgot to take into account the price of the cardboard and its fabrication. You must return the dividend I gave you, I'm going to hold it back... I put down nothing and kept back the r
1838
Image Not Available for It’s important for a man to know how to swim. He is not doing so badly for a start. You could think it’s a fish, at least while he is attached to the cord. But he’ll learn it… he is still young!
It’s important for a man to know how to swim. He is not doing so badly for a start. You could think it’s a fish, at least while he is attached to the cord. But he’ll learn it… he is still young!
1839
Image Not Available for Preparing for the baccalaureate. - There are two ways in which you might pass your exams: the first way is to let someone else take your place; the second is to take them yourself. - I would like to take them myself. - Very good!... Do you know Greek? - No. - Latin? - None the more. - Excellent!... Do you know your Math? - Not at all. - What do you know then? - Nothing. - But you've 200 francs? - Of course! - Splendid... You'll be passed next Thursday. - You mean you're going to prepare me in eight days? - What do you think!!!!... It's true that I've taken on the responsibility for your success, but for teaching you... Oh no! Certainly not!!
Preparing for the baccalaureate. - There are two ways in which you might pass your exams: the first way is to let someone else take your place; the second is to take them yourself. - I would like to take them myself. - Very good!... Do you know Greek? - No. - Latin? - None the more. - Excellent!... Do you know your Math? - Not at all.
- What do you know then? - Nothing. - But you've 200 francs? - Of course! - Splendid... You'll be passed next Thursday. - You mean you're going to prepare me in eight days? - What do you think!!!!... It's true that I've taken on the responsibility for your success, but for teaching you... Oh no! Certainly not!!
1837
Image Not Available for Let's be quite clear. - Bertrand is going to sneak in and out of the groups at the stock exchange and polish up the tarred bitumen shares, he'll make them sparkle, he'll say they're being snapped up, snatched up all round, that they're rising like balloons... As for you, Baron, you have a certain 'savoir faire', go and buy some for 20%, 30%, even 100% more. I've got the whole lot in my wallet, they won't be able to deliver any, we'll sell them for what we like and providence will do the rest. - (Bertrand) Forward march against the dupes, let's cash in... fly... etc.
Let's be quite clear. - Bertrand is going to sneak in and out of the groups at the stock exchange and polish up the tarred bitumen shares, he'll make them sparkle, he'll say they're being snapped up, snatched up all round, that they're rising like balloons... As for you, Baron, you have a certain 'savoir faire', go and buy some for 20%, 30%, even 100% more. I've got the whole lot in my wallet, they won't be able to deliver any, we'll sell them for what we like and providence will do the rest. - (Bertrand) Forward march against the dupes, let's cash in... fly... etc.
1838
Image Not Available for Robert Macaire, journalist. - It's a new arrangement! The newspaper costs us 23 Fr 50 Cts, we'll sell it for 20 Fr, a profit of 3Fr 50 Cts. A million subscribers, a dividend of 3 million 500 thousand Fr. It's as clear as the day. Let them say what they like about the figures... But only in figures or I'll sue for libel.
Robert Macaire, journalist. - It's a new arrangement! The newspaper costs us 23 Fr 50 Cts, we'll sell it for 20 Fr, a profit of 3Fr 50 Cts. A million subscribers, a dividend of 3 million 500 thousand Fr. It's as clear as the day. Let them say what they like about the figures... But only in figures or I'll sue for libel.
1836
Image Not Available for Security Chain Dealer. The coupling chain is named after the way its used by an unsuspecting victim, who wears it, thus signaling that he is in the possession of a watch. The cronies stationed in the neighborhood are not dallying to put the information to profit. This way Bertrand has sold the chain and Macaire gets the watch.
Security Chain Dealer. The coupling chain is named after the way its used by an unsuspecting victim, who wears it, thus signaling that he is in the possession of a watch. The cronies stationed in the neighborhood are not dallying to put the information to profit. This way Bertrand has sold the chain and Macaire gets the watch.
1840
Image Not Available for Devil, devil, it seems the razor is not much good any more... and it will be even worse once it's my turn.
Devil, devil, it seems the razor is not much good any more... and it will be even worse once it's my turn.
1847
Image Not Available for Mr. Prudhomme: - Obnoxious waves.... don't you know whom you are carrying in this moment?... oh audacious... know I shall, like Xerxes, whip you terribly. Mme Prudhomme: (shivering of fear) - Pray, my dear friend, do not offend the sea any longer... you might wake its fury and it might devour us completely!
Mr. Prudhomme: - Obnoxious waves.... don't you know whom you are carrying in this moment?... oh audacious... know I shall, like Xerxes, whip you terribly. Mme Prudhomme: (shivering of fear) - Pray, my dear friend, do not offend the sea any longer... you might wake its fury and it might devour us completely!
1859
Image Not Available for Robert Macaire, business agent. Yesterday I made a mistake when I said that your business is in good shape. It's detestable. The government owes you five hundred thousand francs, it's true, but the debt hasn't been recognized, there's a forfeiture today, you won't have a penny. However, come to think of it, there's Mr. de St. Bertrand, a rich capitalist, an imbecile, sell him your interests for a hundred crowns, that'll be a splendid deal... (aside) and not expensive.
Robert Macaire, business agent. Yesterday I made a mistake when I said that your business is in good shape. It's detestable. The government owes you five hundred thousand francs, it's true, but the debt hasn't been recognized, there's a forfeiture today, you won't have a penny. However, come to think of it, there's Mr. de St. Bertrand, a rich capitalist, an imbecile, sell him your interests for a hundred crowns, that'll be a splendid deal... (aside) and not expensive.
1836
Image Not Available for Robert Macaire, salesman in Bibles. - (Bertrand): The subscribers claim that we are swindlers, thieves... I mean purloiners, and they are kicking... er, I mean, turning us out. - (Robert): What expressions to use, you rascal... you must address me more decently or I kick... er, I mean push you out of the door. It's you highfaluting manner, your high pitched twaddle, that riles the subscribers. Stop that! If they throw you out of the door, go back through the rear window... if they slap your face, turn your other cheek... but don't you come back here without subscriptions, or I ... well, never mind!
Robert Macaire, salesman in Bibles. - (Bertrand): The subscribers claim that we are swindlers, thieves... I mean purloiners, and they are kicking... er, I mean, turning us out. - (Robert): What expressions to use, you rascal... you must address me more decently or I kick... er, I mean push you out of the door. It's you highfaluting manner, your high pitched twaddle, that riles the subscribers. Stop that! If they throw you out of the door, go back through the rear window... if they slap your face, turn your other cheek... but don't you come back here without subscriptions, or I ... well, never mind!
1838